Legislative Compliance

Domestic Premises (Non Fire Danger Season Only)

• Burning is only permitted between the hours of 10.00am and 3.00pm from Monday to Saturday.
• Burning is not permitted on Sundays or on other days when a fire ban is announced.
• Only dry paper, dry cardboard, dry wood and garden prunings (which have been dried) can be burnt.
• Burning is not permitted in any street, road or laneway.
• The burning of wood treated with CCA chemicals (such as permapine) is not permitted.

Note: Burning outside the restricted hours may occur if a person is using the fire principally for the preparation of food or beverages or the burning of charcoal within a brazier, principally for heating an area for outdoor entertainment.

During Fire Danger Season

• Generally from 1 November until 15 April fires in the open are banned except by permit or specific conditions.
• Permits must be obtained from Council.
• Domestic rubbish and garden refuse may be burned only in a properly constructed incinerator (not simply a 44 gallon drum).
• No rubbish or garden refuse may be burnt on the ground.
• Incinerators and barbecues must be located in an area cleared of flammable materials, four metres around and above.
• Incinerators and barbecues must be attended at all times by a person able to control the fire and water or extinguishing agents must be readily available to extinguish the fire.
• All covers for openings should be kept closed and all screens and guards secured for the whole time a fire is burning in an incinerator.

It must be remembered that incinerators and wood barbecues are classed as an open fire and their use is banned on total fire ban days.

Non-Domestic Premises (All Year Round)

There must be no burning of matter by fire on any non domestic premises, except with the written consent of Council. Penalty $300.00.

Total Fire Ban Days

The only fires you can use outside on a total fire ban day for cooking are gas stoves or kettles, gas barbecues and electric barbecues or stoves. These must be within 15 metres of a dwelling or on coastal foreshore in a four metre cleared area of flammable materials around and above.

More information on backyard burning can be obtained from the Country Fire Service website. Fire Safety information can be obtained from the Metropolitan Fire Service website or Council's office.