Obtaining a Permit to Light Fire
An application for a ‘Permit to Light Fire’ is made through your local fire warden. Contact details for fire wardens are available through the Fire Warden Finder on the home page. Following receipt of your application the fire warden may impose conditions on a permit to reduce unwanted risk or nuisance to other people, property or to the environment. The fire warden may refuse to issue a permit if they believe that appropriate safety measures cannot be reasonably achieved.
A Notification issued under the Fire and Rescue Service Act 1990, does allow certain fires to be lit without the need to obtain a permit, except if the fires are not permitted under a local law or other legislation. If there is a local law in your local government area prohibiting the lighting of fires, a permit will not be issued by the fire warden unless you have obtained the written permission of the local government.
Fires that do not Require a Permit
Fires that are exempt from requiring a Permit to Light Fire are:
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Fires that are less than 2 metres in any direction.Note: These fires are not exempt during any Fire Danger Period and a permit must be obtained from a fire warden.
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Fires lit outdoors in a properly prepared fireplace for the purpose of cooking (e.g. BBQ and camp fires). In this instanceit is the responsibility of the person lighting or maintaining the fire to ensure adequate precautions are taken to prevent the spread of fire.
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Certain fires used by primary producers and for industrial purposes.
Most local governments provide alternative methods (other than fire) for the disposal of vegetation and waste materials such as refuse collections or disposal of green waste at a council recycling centre. Contact your local government for more information.
How to apply for a Permit
Please see the attached brochure for information on how to apply for a Permit to Light.
Once you have the Application (which can be downloaded below), you need to do four things:
- Contact your local council to see if you can have a fire and if so, do you require written permission from the council.
- Contact the owners/occupiers of the land adjoining the property where you wish to light a fire and advise them of your intention to apply for a permit. You need to allow them 72 hours in which to contact the Fire Warden and raise any concerns regarding the intended fire. Record the time you contact them on the Application form and also note if they have or have not objected. If the neighbours do have an objection, they should contact the local Fire Warden. If you cannot contact the owners/ occupiers, note this in the application form.
- Complete both sides of the application form. This brochure includes Explanatory Notes for the Completion of an Application for Permit to Light Fire.
- Contact your local Fire Warden to submit your Application.
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