Burning approvals
In cases where burning is not for the purpose of hazard reduction, other environmental approvals may be required, as summarised in the table below.
A fire permit is still required all year round for any fire lit in Fire and Rescue NSW Fire Districts. Ask your local Fire and Rescue NSW Fire Station for further advice.
| Burning activity | Type of environmental approval required | Who issues the approval |
|---|---|---|
| Pile burn for purposes other than hazard reduction. | Control of burning approval | Local Council/EPA |
| Bonfire | Control of burning approval | Local Council/DEC* |
| Burning of windrows | DA, Control of burning approval | Local Council/DEC* |
| Agricultural burning of material such as stubble, sugar cane, orchard pruning or diseased crops | Not required | |
| Burning in an incinerator | Control of burning approval | Local Council/DEC* |
| Burning domestic waste | Control of burning approval (not permitted in some areas) | Local Council/DEC* |
| Burning to demolish a building or other building materials | Control of burning approval (not permitted in some areas) | Local Council/DEC* |
| Burning to destroy sawmill waste material | DA, Control of burning approval | Local Council/DEC* |
| Lighting fires to produce charcoal | Control of burning approval | Local Council/DEC* |
| Burning animals that have died or have died due to disease | Not required | |
| Camp fire for cooking or heating | Not required | |
| Burning of tyres (except for the purpose of giving firefighting instruction) | Prohibited | |
| Burning of coated wire | Prohibited | |
| Burning of paint containers and residues | Prohibited | |
| Burning of solvent containers and residues | Prohibited | |
| Burning of treated timber | Prohibited | |
| Burning to clear native vegetation | Approval under the Native Conservation Act | Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources/Local Council |
*These approvals are only required in areas listed in the schedules in the Protection of the Environment Operations (Control of Burning) Regulation 2000 [external link]
Note: The Rural Fires Act Section 89 [external link] state a fire permit must not be issued unless
- a bushfire hazard reduction certificate has been issued, or
- any approval, consent or authority required for the purpose under the Environmental Planning Assessment Act 1979 [external link] or any other law has been given
NSW Rural Fire Service
For the latest information on current bushfire warnings and bushfire safety resources visit www.rfs.nsw.gov.au [external link]