Approval to Burn

Approval is required prior to burning within the City of Canning.

Residents can apply for an Approval to Burn and must follow the restricted burning times and requirements:

2 November to 14 December	Restricted burning	Permits required
15 December to 31 March	Prohibited burning	No burning – Penalties apply
1 April to 30 April	Restricted burning	Permits required
1 May to 1 November	Restricted burning	Contact us

 
No permits are issued during the prohibited burning period from 15 December to 31 March. The burning of leaf litter, rubbish or refuse on the ground and/or in an incinerator is not permitted within the City during this period.

Please complete and submit an Approval to Burn at least three business days before the intended burn period. Approvals are free of charge for a period of up to seven days and always expire on the Sunday.

All owners and occupiers of land within the City must follow the requirements of the Annual Fire Hazard Reduction Notice (PDF 670KB) / Simplified version (PDF 4MB).

To apply, please download the appropriate approval to burn form:

• Application for Approval to Burn (PDF 50KB)
• Application for Approval for an Exemption to Burn Vegetation PDF 300KB) – please apply between 1 May and 31 October

Burning restrictions and requirements

During restricted burning times, an authorised person will inspect your property and the material to be burnt. This is to ensure these assessment criteria are met:

• At least three able bodied adults always present.
• Informing local fire services and neighbours before commencing the burn.
• Restricting burning to coincide with the appropriate weather conditions.
• Implementing precautions to prevent the escape of the burn.
• Having enough water and personnel to control and extinguish the burn.
• Providing a time limit in which the burn can be carried out.
• Ensure no materials which may cause smoke or odour are present.

No fires are to be lit at any time on days of very high or worse fire conditions or any day declared a total fire ban. All permits are automatically suspended on these days.

Total Fire Ban

A Total Fire Ban effects everyone, whether you live near bush or in a built-up area. They are declared when fires:

• will be difficult to control
• are most likely to threaten lives and property
• when widespread fires are impacting the availability of resources.

When a Total Fire Ban is declared, it prohibits the lighting of any fires in the open air and any other activities that may start a fire, such as:

• hot works (welding, grinding, soldering, gas cutting)
• all open solid fuel fires for cooking or camping
• use of incinerators and other activities.

For more information, please visit DFES's Total Fire Ban page.

Alternatives to burning

Rather than burning, there are alternative ways of getting rid of waste. For instance, you can:

• use mulch clippings, branches, twigs, and leaves for compost
• utilise the City’s Green Waste Collection
• arrange for large quantities of green waste to be mulched on site by mobile mulching services.

Visit the Waste and Recycling section to learn more.