Fires endanger lives, health, property and the environment. If you want to burn dead and dry vegetation, there are strict rules in place.
Burning dead & dry vegetation
Council’s Control of Open Burning Policy 2022(PDF, 185KB) outlines areas where the burning of dead and dry vegetation is permitted, when an approval from Council is required and the conditions in which burning must be undertaken.
After reading the Open Burning Policy, if you need to find out your property land size and zone check out Council’s online mapping portal. Switch on Legislated EPI and LEP layers on the left-land side of the map and type in your address and look under the ‘land information’ tab on the right-hand side of the map.
Please note that generally residents living in a residential/urban area are not permitted to burn due to surrounding population density, amenity impact and access to alternative disposal options including green waste bins and waste management facilities. Burning of general or commercial waste is not permitted at any time.
All burn piles must be constructed and burnt in accordance with NSW Rural Fires Service, Fire and Rescue NSW document Standards for pile burning Standards for Pile Burning.
Fire Permits, Total Fire Bans and No Burn Notices
You must obtain a fire permit from the NSW Rural Fire Service or Fire and Rescue NSW prior to burning dead and dry vegetation during the ‘bushfire danger period’. Please see the following link to further information Bush Fire Danger Period and Fire Permits - NSW Rural Fire Service.
Fire restrictions including ‘total fire bans’ placed by the NSW Rural Fire Service or Fire and Rescue NSW and 'no burn notices' issued by the NSW Environmental Protection Authority override any approvals from Council and directions provided by these authorities must be followed at all times.
Enforcement Action & Penalties
Please be aware that failure to comply with Council requirements and/or the Protection of the Environment (Clean Air) Regulations (2022) can result in Council issuing Penalty Infringement Notices and Prevention Notices under Protection of the Environmental Operations Act (1997).