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Baw Baw Shire updates burning off permit requirements with new controls under Community Local Law 2024

Permit requirements for burning off have changed, with new controls under the Community Local Law 2024. Notifications must now be registered online, and certain safety requirements must be followed for private burns.

By news@gippsland - 30th April 2025 - Back to News

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.

Started in 1 December 2024, new local laws will affect burning off requirements to safely manage bushfire risks and vegetation disposal

Burning rules clarified

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 4m 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 Triple Zero ( 000 ) Victoria website or by calling 1800 668 511, not council. For more information about burning off requirements, go to Burning Off and Permits page.

Burn-off requirements

A detailed summary of all burning off requirements is below:

Burning off on private land

No permit required if:

• Burning is for genuine hazard reduction purposes
• Fire is not within 20 metres of any neighbouring dwelling
• Fire is not within 10 metres of any other structure
• 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

• Burning must occur between 9.00am to 5.00pm (not applicable to primary producers)
• Fire must be supervised by a person over 18 years who has capacity and means to extinguish the fire
• 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
• Vegetation that is burnt must be dead and dry
• Wind speed forecast at the site of the fire must not exceed 15 km/h when the fire is lit and while it is burning
• Temperature forecast at the site of the fire must not exceed 30 degrees Celsius when the fire is lit and while it is burning
• Notification of burning must be registered online

The person who has lit the fire or is in charge of it, must before leaving the place of the fire:

• Completely extinguished the fire
• 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:

• Barbecue, pizza oven or other properly constructed appliance while it is being used for cooking food
• 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

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

• 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

Pictures from Baw Baw shire Council Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com