Step 1 – Environmental Approval
An Environmental Approval is a legal instrument which authorises a person to carry out a restricted activity and sets out the environmental protection measures which must be applied when doing so. Different types of Environmental Approval apply to different activities. When it comes to using fire on your property, there are two primary types to consider:
- Approval to burn in the open (air pollution)
- Approval to clear native vegetation
Apply for an Approval to Burn a Pile of Vegetation
The table below outlines the permissibility and Environmental Approval requirements of a range of burning activities.
In all cases, the person responsible for a fire has an obligation to prevent or minimise air pollution. Steps include ensuring that the material is suitable to burn and not wet, and taking into account the potential for smoke impact on any person, having regard to wind direction, weather conditions, and length of burn time.
| Type of Fire | Permissibility | Environmental Approvals Required | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution | Vegetation Clearing | ||
| Small recreational or cooking fire | Permitted so long as only dry seasoned wood, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), natural gas or proprietary barbecue fuel (including a small quantity of fire starter) is burnt. | Not required – conditions apply | N/A |
| Burning of fallen branches and dead, dry garden waste |
Permitted only in rural areas, and only for vegetation gathered from the property on which it is being burnt.
Prohibited in urban areas. | Required | N/A |
| You can obtain an approval to burn piles of dead vegetation, free of charge, from Hornsby Council. Check your eligibility and start an application. | |||
| Burning for bush fire hazard reduction | Permitted in bush fire prone areas. | Required | Required |
| You can obtain an environmental approval (Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Certificate) for bush fire hazard reduction, free of charge, from the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS). This single approval may cover both air pollution and the clearing of vegetation. | |||
| Burning vegetation for agricultural purposes | Permitted only on premises where agricultural operations are carried out. | Not required – conditions apply |
Required if burning to clear native vegetation.
Not required for burning of crop stubble or for pasture regeneration etc. |
| Burning of domestic waste |
Highly restricted. Permitted only for a small number of water-access properties for which no waste management service is available.
Contact Council to check your eligibility. | Not required – conditions apply | N/A |
| Burning in an incinerator |
Permitted so long as incinerators meet strict standards and/or operate under a licence issued by NSW EPA.
See Authorised burning - incinerators and flares or contact Council for more information. | Not required – conditions apply | N/A |
Items Prohibited from Burning
Burning of the following items, including burning in an incinerator, is generally prohibited:
- Tyres (except tyres burnt by a fire authority in an official capacity for training purposes)
- Coated wire
- Paint containers and residues
- Solvent containers and residues
- Timber treated with:
- Copper chromium arsenate (CCA)
- Pentachlorophenol (PCP)
Burning of these items is permitted ONLY if authorised under a licence or approval issued by NSW EPA. Council does not have the power to approve the burning of these items.