Burning and Permits

Open Air Burning

Frankston City Council receives many complaints about open air burning in the municipality. Open Air-Burning is regulated by Local Law No. 7, part 3.2. Open Air burning laws are in place to protect the amenity of the neighbourhood along with its general air quality, and to reduce the risks associated with fire.

Residents and other land users should always look for alternatives to burning off to reduce the impact upon others. Even if the burning off is legal, you should always consider the needs of others and ensure that any impact of the fire is minimal.

No person may light, or allow to remain alight, a fire in the open air unless a permit to burn has first been obtained from the Council's Fire Safety Officer for the purpose of fuel reduction or fire hazard clearance. The owner or occupier of land where a fire has been lit without a permit must immediately take all steps necessary to make it safe and completely extinguish the fire.

A person must not light, or allow to remain alight, a fire in a public place unless authorised to do so by a public body for the purpose of undertaking fire protection measures.

Burn Permits

Permits to burn are provided to residents for the sole purpose of fuel reduction or fire hazard clearance, but only in limited circumstances. Residents living in residential zoning are very unlikely to obtain a permit to burn.

For more information before applying for a burn permit, please consult Frankston City Council's Community Safety FAQ's or phone Council's Municipal Fire Safety Officer on 1300 322 322 (1300 FCC FCC).

Due to the fire danger period not being declared by the CFA on the 1 December 2010, Frankston City Council are still able to accept Permit to Burn Applications. Current issued Permits to Burn that would normally expire on the 30 November are still current until further notice.

If you have obtained a permit to burn before, or are certain you will qualify to obtain a permit, please fill in the Residential Permit to Burn Application Form  and take into one of Frankston City Council's Offices.

Fuel-Reduction and Ecological Burning

Within the City of Frankston, fuel-reduction and ecological burning is conducted by both Frankston City Council's Natural Reserves Team and The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE).

These burns are usually undertaken in Spring and Autumn when weather permits. For more information on Frankston City Council's Burning program please contact 1300 322 322 (1300 FCC FCC).

For more information about burning undertaken on DSE managed areas please visit the The Department of Sustainability and Environment Web site.

Fire inspections

Inspections for fire hazards are conducted at the beginning of November. This is done to ensure residents have taken necessary action to have their properties in a fire ready state.

Poorly maintained properties are a risk to both life and property from the threat of fire, including that of your neighbours. If your property is not in a fire ready state, you may be issued with a Fire Hazard Notice.

This notice issued under the CFA Act or Local Law requires you to comply with the direction of the notice or risk an infringement being issued and compulsory clearance of the fire hazard(s) at the cost of the owner. Please be aware that permits may be required to clear native vegetation.

Please check with Town Planning on 1300 322 322 before doing so (see native vegetation warning section below for more information).