New requirements for burning off after the Fire Danger Period

Published on 30 April 2025

Permit requirements for burning off have changed following the conclusion of the Fire Danger Period earlier in April.

Any burning off on private land is now subject to controls and provisions of the Community Local Law 2024, which guides Council’s compliance and enforcement activities for a wide range of activities, including burning in open air.

Baw Baw Shire Mayor Cr Danny Goss said it was up to individual residents to know their responsibilities before planning a burn.

“In the past, local laws have regulated open air burning based on property size, which is no longer the case. In most cases now, residents won’t require a permit as long as burns are for genuine hazard reduction purposes, a pile size of no more than 4m³ of vegetation is burnt and residents abide by the safety requirements set out in the Local Law,” said the Mayor.

Another important change is that a notification of ALL planned burning off activities must be registered online at www.triplezero.vic.gov.au/burn-off-water-off-notifications or by calling 1800 668 511, not Council.

For more information about burning off requirements, go to Burning Off and Permits

A detailed summary of all burning off requirements is below:

Burning off on private land

No permit required if:

• The burning is for genuine hazard reduction purposes;
• The fire is not within 20 metres of any neighbouring dwelling;
• The fire is not within 10 metres of any other structure; and
• A pile size of no more than 4 cubic metres of vegetation is burnt at any one time (not applicable to primary producers).

Safety requirements before and during burning:

• The burning must occur between 9.00am to 5.00pm (not applicable to primary producers*);
• The fire must be supervised by a person over 18 years who has capacity and means to extinguish the fire;
• The person in charge of the fire must be able to see it at all times and be no more than 50 metres from the fire;
• Sufficient fire protection equipment must be available, including adequate water to extinguish the fire;
• The vegetation that is burnt must be dead and dry;
• The windspeed forecast at the site of the fire must not exceed 15km/h when the fire is lit and while it is burning;
• The temperature forecast at the site of the fire must not exceed 30 degrees Celsius when the fire is lit and while it is burning;
• A notification of burning must be registered online; and
• The person who has lit the fire or is in charge of it, must before leaving the place of the fire:

(a) completely extinguished the fire; or

(b) ensure that a person over the age of 18 years old who has the capacity and means to extinguish the fire remains at all times in charge of the fire.

The above restrictions don’t apply to:

• A barbecue, pizza oven or other properly constructed appliance while it is being used for cooking food;
• A fire in a brazier, fire pit or chiminea or other similar and properly constructed appliance while it is being used for heating.

Requirements for Walhalla:

• A person must not, without a permit, light or allow to be lit, a campfire within a 1.2km radius of the Old Walhalla Post Office Museum, unless that fire is lit in a formally constructed and permanent campfire pit or structure that has been approved by Council.

Burning off on public land

• A permit is required to light a fire in the open air on a road, Council land, Crown land or any public place.
• Residents must contact and obtain a permit from the relevant authority prior to burning off on any public land.