Burning off

Alternatives to burning off

Instead of burning off, here are some better ways to get rid of green waste for you to consider:

• Our twice-yearly hard and green waste collection 
• Our fortnightly green waste bin collection
• Use a compost bin (if you buy a compost bin, you can get a $30 rebate from us). 

Check if you can burn off

Follow the steps below to check if you are allowed to burn off. 

Step 1 – Check if it is a Total Fire Ban Day

Visit the CFA website to find out if it is a Total Fire Ban Day. Note, Cardinia Shire is in the Central district. 

• If it IS a Total Fire Ban Day, burning off is strictly not allowed. 
• If it is NOT a Total Fire Ban day, go to step 2.

Step 2 – Check if your property is in a designated bushfire prone area

To do this:

• Go to the Landata website and enter the property’s street address 
• Tick the box next to the property address and click the ‘next’ button
• Tick the box next to ‘Bushfire Prone Area Property Report (no charge)’ and click ‘View’ or ‘PDF’. 

This report will tell you if you are in a designated bushfire prone area or not. 

If you are NOT in a designated bushfire prone area, burning off is not allowed without a burning off permit. Applying for the permit is free of charge. 

Apply online for a burning off permit 
Download an application form for a burning off permit

If you ARE in a designated bushfire prone area, go to step 3. 

(You can also call us on 1300 787 624 to check if you can burn off).

Step 3 – Check the size of your property

If you ARE in a designated bushfire prone area, you are allowed to burn off on certain days depending on whether your property is under or over 20 hectares.  

To find out the size of your land, you can:

• check your property’s certificate of title. If you don’t have one, you can order it from the Landata website – we do not store title certificates
• order a ‘detailed property report’ from the Land Channel website
• call our Statutory Planning team on 1300 787 624 to ask. We will provide this information free of charge over the phone, or you can request it in writing.

Step 4 – Check burning off rules for your property size

Once you know the size of your property, you can burn off without a permit if you follow the rules listed below for your property size. 

If your property is 20 hectares or less	If your property is bigger than 20 hectares
You can only burn off on Monday, Friday or Saturday.	You can burn off on any day except Sunday.
The edge of your fire must be a minimum of 10 metres away from any buildings.	The edge of your fire must be a minimum of 30 metres away from any buildings.
You must have a fire break of at least 3 metres around the fire. (A fire break is an area around the fire that is clear of materials that could catch on fire).	You must have a fire break of at least 6 metres around the fire. (A fire break is an area around the fire that is clear of materials that could catch on fire)
The materials you are burning cannot be more than 8 cubic metres in size.	The materials you are burning cannot be more than 64 cubic metres in size
You can only have 1 fire burning at a time.	You can only have 3 fires burning at a time
You follow all rules in Step 5 (see below).	You follow all rules in Step 5  (see below).

 

Step 5 – Check your fire will meet the following conditions 

Finally, burning off is only allowed if you follow all the rules below:   

• You cannot light a fire on a SMOG alert day. Fires are strictly not allowed on EPA-declared SMOG alert days. To check if a SMOG alert day has been declared, go to the EPA website and check the ‘air quality’ section or call the EPA on 1300 372 842.   
• You must register your burn-off with the CFA. Before you light your fire, you must register your burn off so the CFA don’t get called out to your fire. 
• Fires must be supervised. A person 18 years or over with the means and ability to put the fire out must be present for the whole time the fire is alight. 
• The purpose of the fire must be to reduce fuel on your property. It cannot be lit for commercial or industrial purposes. 
• You can only burn dry vegetation. It must not still be green. Hard rubbish, household waste, flammable liquids or commercial or industrial waste is strictly not allowed to be burnt.
• Fires must not cause a risk to other properties. 
• Smoke from the fire cannot reduce visibility on any roads. 
• Fires must not cause problems for other people. It must not be unreasonably offensive or a nuisance to another person – particularly from the smoke it creates. 
• You need to put the fire out if an authorised person tells you to. Fires must be immediately put out if a member of an emergency service or Council officer directs you to do this.

If your fire meets all these conditions, you can burn off.  

Burning off tips and advice

When burning off:

• call 000 immediately if the fire is no longer under control
• do not burn household and hard waste materials
• never burn off on windy days (when wind speed is over 20 km/h)
• never burn off when the shade temperature is over 32 degrees Celsius
• supervise fire at all times and have the capacity and means to extinguish it
• ensure adequate water supply is available
• totally extinguish your fire at its completion on the same day
• never use flammable liquids to start a fire
• postpone a burn if there are smog alerts, foggy conditions or wind that will carry smoke in a direction that will disrupt adjacent roadways or neighbouring properties
• notify the Emergency Services Telecommunication Authority on 1800 668 511 to alert them of your intent to burn to prevent unnecessary fire brigade callouts.

Report an illegal burn off

To report someone who is illegally burning off contact us on 1300 787 624 or email mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au