Summary
- Caravan park owners have a legal obligation to comply with fire safety legislation
- CFA provides guidelines for caravan parks to follow to meet the regulations
- Caravan parks must meet fire regulations in order to achieve and maintain registration
- Apply to CFA to complete a fire safety inspection and report for your caravan park
Responsibilities of caravan park owners
Caravan park owners must meet fire safety requirements as outlined in the Residential Tenancies (Caravan Parks and Movable Dwellings Registration and Standards) Regulations 2024.
These regulations cover the construction, site layout and facilities within caravan parks in Victoria.
As a caravan park owner you must:
- Provide and maintain access for firefighters
- Prevent fire spreading by separating structures
- Provide and maintain firefighting equipment
- Identify and manage fire hazards
- Comply with legislative requirements
- Conduct regular maintenance to ensure fire safety elements are in good working order
CFA's fire safety guidelines for caravan parks
Use these guidelines to check, update and maintain fire safety systems in your caravan park so you can stay compliant and continue to run your business and protect your customers.
Guidelines for caravan parks and works operating after 29 June 2024
CFA's 2024 guidelines provide information about what you are required to do when building a new park or renovating an existing park.
The 2024 guidelines replace the 2012 guidelines as of the 29th June 2024 in accordance with the current regulations.
They set out CFA's standards for the following objectives and areas:
Design, Construction and Installation
- Firefighting equipment - appropriate firefighting equipment must be provided within caravan parks, for occupants and fire services.
- Fire service access - so firefighters and vehicles can gain access to structures in an emergency.
- Fire separation - ensuring adequate separation distance between and around any structure to prevent the spread of fire and allow occupants to evacuate safely.
- Fire hazards - potential bushfire, grassfire and other types of fire hazards must be identified, managed and maintained safely. This includes vegetation, dangerous goods, LP gas, flammable liquids, corrosive substances, electrical leads and outlets, electric vehicle charging stations and battery storage.
Management, maintenance and emergency planning
- Risk management - a risk assessment must be conducted and documented in a Risk Management Plan.
- Emergency planning - a site-specific Emergency Management Plan must be developed, implemented and maintained.
- Maintenance - firefighting equipment, firefighter access and fire separation must be maintained throughout the caravan park.
- Fire Safety Reports - matters identified in Fire Safety Reports must be actioned and completed within the time frames identified in the Schedule of Works.
Guidelines for caravan parks operating before 29 June 2024
Existing parks (or parts thereof) operating prior to 29 June 2024 can continue to comply with the provisions of the CFA Caravan Park Fire Safety Guideline 2012.
The guidelines include CFA's proscriptive provisions for:
- Firefighter access and fire separation
- Fire vehicle access
- Fire equipment - for occupants and fire authorities
- LP Gas storage and use
- Electrical safety
- Flammable liquids
- Emergency management plan
- Provisions for maintenance
They also include information on smoke alarms, maintenance and inspection records and a checklist.
Resources
2012 Caravan Park Fire Safety Guidelines
These guidelines provide a set of technical provisions to enable the achievement of consistent, minimum and necessary provisions for fire safety and emergency management within caravan parks.
CFA caravan park fire safety inspections and reports
As part of applying for or renewing your caravan park registration with the local council, you need to submit a Caravan Park Fire Safety Inspection Report.
CFA and FRV can inspect and audit fire safety measures in caravan parks and provide a report to the caravan park owner and the relevant local council.
Fees for inspections and reports
As permitted under the Regulations, CFA charges a fee for inspection and report services.
Fees are set at $163.30 for the first hour, and $40.80 for each 15 minutes or part thereafter between 1 July 2024 - 30 June 2025.
How to apply for an inspection and report
You can apply for a Caravan Park Fire Safety Inspection by CFA by doing the following:
- Download the Application for Caravan Park Inspection (PDF 1774KB)
- Attach your Caravan Park Emergency Management Plan
- Forward application to firesafetyreferrals@cfa.vic.gov.au
Email caravanparksfire@cfa.vic.gov.au if you need more information.
Resources
Application - Caravan park fire safety inspection and report
Use this application form to apply for a Caravan Park Fire Safety Inspection by CFA.
Displaying emergency warnings on site
The Residential Tenancies Regulations 2024 requires caravan parks to display any public emergency warnings on days that the warning is current. CFA also recommends displaying the current fire danger rating and fire restrictions notifications.
This includes Total Fire Bans, as well as Emergency warnings.
Warnings are issued when a fire has started in the area near the caravan park.
Page last updated: Friday, 28 August 2026 3:38:07 PM