Summary
- Schedules to the BMO set out preset bushfire protection measures for areas which have been identified as having lower bushfire risk.
- Applying for a permit using the schedule can streamline the assessment process.
- CFA highly recommends making your application via the streamlined assessment process if your land is within a schedule to the BMO.
What is a Bushfire Management Overlay schedule?
A schedule to the Bushfire Management Overlay contains specific pre-set bushfire protection measures based on local bushfire risk.
Applying for a planning permit using the schedule can streamline the application process if you are wanting to build or extend a single dwelling within the schedule.
These pre-set measures replace those set out in the Victoria Planning Provisions (Clause 44.06 and 53.02). A schedule may also state that a requirement in Clause 53.02 applies.
Learn more at Planning Victoria.
Fast tracked application process
If your land is within a schedule to the BMO, and all the set requirements are met, you can make your application via the streamlined assessment process, otherwise known as the fast track pathway. If you take the fast track:
- you won’t need to prepare a Bushfire Management Statement
- you won’t need to have an individual bushfire site assessment done
- your application will be simpler
- it won’t need to be referred to CFA.
CFA highly recommends using the preset requirements and making your application via the streamlined assessment process.
Note: If you take the fast track pathway, you will still be required to submit a Bushfire Management Plan in support of your proposal.
The Department of Transport and Planning has produced a fact sheet about the BMO schedule fast track application process:
Download Smarter bushfire protection measures for single dwellings: General Information PDF 615.1 KB | DOC 388.5 KB
Is my site included in a schedule to the BMO?
You can find out if a schedule to the BMO applies to your land by putting your address into the state government’s planning geo-spatial map tool VicPlan.
VicPlan will generate a planning property report, with a list of zones and overlays that apply to your land. A report including BMO1 or BMO2 indicates that your land is in a BMO Schedule.
What do most schedules contain?
BMO schedules provide a number of preset requirements, which commonly include:
- Construction standards - the required Bushfire Attack Level
- Defendable space - how much and how far vegetation around the building must be managed
- Water supply requirements - for firefighting purposes
- Vehicle access requirements - to allow emergency vehicle access
Water and vehicle access requirements typically relate to the size of the land and are the same regardless of whether you apply for your planning permit under the schedule or not.
If you don’t use the schedule
If you choose to make an application via the normal BMO application process, you will need to meet all of the application requirements and provide:
- a bushfire hazard site assessment
- a bushfire landscape hazard assessment (where applicable)
- a bushfire management statement addressing the relevant bushfire controls.
Future schedules in the BMO
CFA is always working with local government and the Department of Transport and Planning to identify additional opportunities for BMO schedules into the future.
More information
Learn more about building in the bushfire management overlay at Planning Victoria.
Contact the relevant local council for general help and advice about applying for a permit.
Page last updated: Friday, 18 September 2026 9:04:27 AM