As a property owner, it is your responsibility to prepare and maintain your property to reduce the threat fire poses to you and your surrounding neighbours.
Fire hazards can include long or overgrown grass, rubbish, abandoned machinery and other materials. Council undertakes annual inspections to identify properties that may pose a risk in the event a fire occurs.
Report a fire hazard Apply for a permit to burn
It depends on a few things:
- Has the Fire Danger Period commenced?
Once the Fire Danger Period has been declared, fire restrictions come into force. You cannot light a fire in the open air unless you have a permit issued by CFA. During the Fire Danger Period Council will NOT issue permits to burn.
Read more about the Fire Danger Period.
- Is it a Total Fire Ban?
During a Total Fire ban, open air burning is prohibited, even if you have a permit to burn.
Read more about Total Fire Bans.
- Do you have a permit to burn?
You will need to apply for a permit to burn if your property is:
Council will NOT issue permits during the Fire Danger Period.
You do not need a permit to burn if you are using the following items to cook or for heating: pizza oven barbecue, fire pit, chimenea, fire brazier or other properly constructed appliance while it is being used for cooking food or heating.
Apply for a permit to burn
Before burning off
- You're following regulations or laws by CFA and Council
- You notify your neighbours if your activity will generate fire and smoke
- Check the weather forecast for the day of the activity and a few days afterwards
- Establish a gap in vegetation or fire break with no less than three metres cleared of all flammable material
- There are enough people to monitor, contain and extinguish the burn safely and effectively
- Notifying ESTA000 about your plans to conduct a burn to prevent unnecessary fire brigade responses.
Call 1800 668 511 or visit Fire Permits Victoria
Each year, Council inspects properties across the municipality. The goal is to ensure that long grass and any materials that may cause a fire are removed. Apart from the fire risk, overgrown properties look unsightly and may attract snakes and other unwanted vermin.
As a property owner, you must prepare and maintain your property. This reduces the threat fire poses to you and your neighbours.
This responsibility covers residential properties, commercial properties, and any vacant land you own within the municipality.
A well maintained property throughout the fire season is important to reduce the risk to your personal safety and property. To achieve a well maintained property, you should:
- Cut/mow any long grass
- Remove any flammable material around your home, including clearing out gutters
- Clear away dead undergrowth and fallen branches
- Prune back branches that are overhanging or near your house
- Ensure that any firewood is stored well away from your house
- Remove any noxious and environmental weeds from your property
- Ensure that your property is clearly numbered to ensure that it can be easily found by emergency services
- Trim excess vegetation along driveways and firebreaks. This includes overhanging branches to ensure easy access for firefighting equipment.
For disposal of grass, leaves, bark and twigs Council has several options that may help you:
If Council determines that a property is a potential fire hazard, a Fire Prevention Notice will be sent to the landowner giving them the direction to remove the fire hazard from their property. Under the Country Fire Authority Act, property owners may receive an infringement notice if they do not comply with the Fire Prevention Notice.
Additionally, Council may engage a contractor to clear the land. Any costs incurred are passed onto the property owner in addition to any fines received.
More information on how to prepare your property is available on the CFA website. The CFA have also developed a Fire Ready Kit to help you understand and prepare for a fire.