Burning off and fireworks

Burning off cleans up excess green waste, branches and leaves to prepare your property for the fire season.

During the CFA declared Fire Danger Period you cannot burn off on any property without a permit from the CFA. Council will not issue permits during this period.

Outside of the CFA declared Fire Danger Period, you can burn off on properties of all sizes in Mitchell Shire on permitted days provided you follow Local Laws and CFA requirements for your property type. You should always make sure your burn off doesn’t affect your neighbours or create a nuisance beyond your property boundary.

The Country Fire Authority (CFA) declared Fire Danger Period for Mitchell Shire Council begins at 1am on Monday 11 November 2019 and is in place until 1 May 2020.

During the CFA declared Fire Danger Period you will need a permit to burn off from the CFA. Council will not be issuing permits during this time.

Please be aware, if there is a Total Fire Ban, declared there will be additional restrictions.

You can find out about current fire bans and ratings on the CFA website.

Each year the Fire Danger Period is declared by the CFA for each shire or council at different times in the lead up to the fire season. It depends on the amount of rain, grassland curing rate and other local conditions. The Fire Danger Period will remain in place until the fire danger is reduced.

People living in country Victoria and the outer metropolitan suburbs of Melbourne are affected by these restrictions.

You can check the CFA website for the latest update on the current Fire Danger Period status for Mitchell Shire and subsequent restrictions.

Please be aware, you can only burn off during this time if you have a permit from the CFA. Council will not issue burning off permits during the fire danger period.

Find out more about what you can and can't do during the Fire Danger Period.

Burning in the open-air, for the purposes of fuel reduction, is permitted from the end of the declared CFA Fire Danger Period to 1 October each year.

In most cases you can burn-off without a permit, but there are some local laws that need to be followed.

• In residential areas, Urban Growth areas (less than 0.4ha or 1 acre) and semi-rural areas, you can burn off on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 10am and 3pm. You’ll need a permit outside of these days and times.
• In rural areas, you can burn off any day of the week.
• From 1 October each year to the start of the CFA declared Fire Danger Period, you’ll need a permit to burn a windrow, stump, log or vegetation with a diameter greater than 75mm

• Once the CFA declared Fire Danger Period begins you will need a permit from the CFA. Council will not be issuing permits during the fire danger period.
  

All open air burning requires notification to VicFire (1800 668 511) and fires are not to be lit on days of Total Fire Ban, smog alert days or during the CFA declared Fire Danger Period.

To obtain a permit, fill out a permit form or call (03) 5734 6200.

From 1 October to the start of the CFA Fire Danger Period each year you will need a permit from Council to burn a windrow, stump, log or vegetation with a diameter greater than 75mm. A windrow is any combustible or inflammable material, including garden or tree waste and household rubbish (unless listed as not allowed), that is stored in an area exceeding 2 cubic metres.

The days you can burn off depends on the zoning of your property.

There are four different property types:

• residential
• semi-rural
• urban growth area (on land less than 0.4 hectares, or approximately 1 acre)
• rural

If you're not sure how your property is classified, go the township maps on pages 30-36 of our Local Law No. 1 Community and Environment below.

When burning off is prohibited, lighting a fire will result in a fine.

If you are concerned about the legalities of fireworks being let off, please contact us on 03 5734 6200. One of our Local Laws Officers will manage the concern.

More Information