Burning off permits

Step 1.Check your eligibility

Residential properties are not eligible for burning off permits. If you have excess grass, weeds, other vegetation or rubbish to dispose of, consider these alternatives:

• use your green food and garden waste bin
• book a hard waste collection
• book a tree prunings collection
• search our A to Z of waste disposal guide for more options.

Step 2.Plan your burn

You need the below information before you apply for a burning off permit:

• applicant's name
• applicant's address
• contact number
• reason for the burn
• number of on-site assistants
• type of water supply
• location of the burn
• dates and types of fuel
• approximate volume of the burn
• Payment of the nominated permit fee

Step 3.Apply for a permit

• Each permit issued has a life of no longer than 28 days.
• Permit must be retained only by an adult person in charge of the burn.

• Please note: Residential properties are not eligible for burning off permits.

Apply for a Permit to Burn

Step 4.Before you start your burn

• Register your burn with Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) at least 2 hours prior to the burn.
• Let your neighbours know that you plan to burn off 24 hours before you start.
• Permit does not allow burning to occur on a day of “Total Fire Ban” and a “Smog Alert Day”, and does not allow for any fire to remain alight should the temperature exceed 26 degrees centigrade and the wind speed exceeds 15 KPH.
• Ensure that you have a adequate pressured water supply and hoses must be readily at hand.
• Permit allows fire to be operated only between the hours of 7am to 6pm the same day, whereby it must be totally extinguished before the site is left.
• Permit allows only the nominated fuel to be used.

Step 5.After you start your burn

• Fire must never be left unattended.
• Ensure that the fire size is less than nine cubic metres.
• The fire must have a five-metre clearance of all flammable materials, and must not be situated any nearer than five metres to any building, and only one fire per property at any one time.
• All efforts must be made to eliminate excessive smoke, so others are not harmed in any way.