Summary
- A Total Fire Ban permit allows businesses or individuals to use fire in the open air on Total Fire Ban days for specific purposes.
- Permits are only issued if the use of fire is deemed necessary by the issuing officer.
- Submitting an application does not guarantee you will get a permit.
- Any issued permit may be suspended or revoked by the granting officer.
Fire permits for Total Fire Ban days
Businesses or individuals who need to use fire in the open air to conduct their work or activity on a day of Total Fire Ban may require a permit.
The open air is defined as any place that is not within a permanent structure - consisting of a roof and fully enclosed on all sides. It includes a caravan but does not include a tent.
Permit applications are assessed in accordance with the Country Fire Authority Act 1958.
Permits will only be issued for Total Fire Ban days when the granting officer agrees the use of fire to be necessary. Permits may or may not be granted.
Applications for a Total Fire Ban permit will only be considered for specified purposes including:
- Carrying out necessary work/business activities
- Public entertainment
- Religious or cultural purposes
Submitting an application does not guarantee that you will get a permit. Any permit granted may be suspended or revoked by the granting officer at any time. Some activities do not allow you to use your permit on days where a catastrophic fire danger rating has been reached. Please check your permit conditions carefully.
Activities requiring a Total Fire Ban permit:
- Bee keeping - using bee smokers
- Blow lamps or gas torches
- Catering - including using gas, electricity, liquid fuel and solid fuel (applicant must hold a Temporary Food Premises/Stall permit from the relevant Municipal Health Officer)
- Emergency flares at civil and military aerodromes
- Fireworks and other uses of fire for public entertainment (applicant must hold a Pryotechnical License)
- Flares at a petroleum fractionation plant, a gas plant or any plant of a like nature
- Gas flare off
- HDPE pipe joining
- Heating and spreading of bitumen and like substances
- Industrial heat testing
- Hot air ballooning (applicant must be a commercial operator)
- Operating a diesel or gas fired steam cleaner or hot wash
- Some religious or cultural ceremonies and activities
- Safety fuses in blasting operations
- Sawmill waste and refuse burners
- Welding, cutting and/or grinding
There may be other activities that require a permit on a day of Total Fire Ban. If you are unsure, please complete an application and select ‘Other’ and we will assess your application.
Who can apply for a Total Fire Ban permit?
- Community organisations
- Charitable organisations
- Fundraising organisations
- Statutory corporations
- Municipal Councils
- Industrial operations, businesses and sole traders
Who issues Total Fire Ban permits?
Depending on the location of the activity, the assessment of applications and granting of Total Fire Ban permits may be done by:
Additional information:
The country area of Victoria means that part of Victoria which lies outside the FRV fire district, but does not include any forest, national park or protected public land.
In some areas, called fire protected areas, which are within the country area of Victoria and within 1.5km of forests, national park or protected public land, fire restrictions are determined by the Prohibited Period under the Forests Act.
The list of places and dates where the Prohibited Period applies can be found on the Forest Fire Management Victoria website.
Conditions will apply if a permit is granted. The applicant agrees to comply with all conditions.
Failure to comply with each and every condition contained in any permit issued is an offence under the law and penalties for non-compliance will apply.
Following the conditions of the permit does not remove the permit holder's legal responsibility for any damage caused by a fire they light. The permit holder may still be liable under civil or criminal law.
If you receive a permit, you must notify us when you want to use it. Notifications, as required by the permit conditions, are very important. These notifications are to prevent an unwarranted response by the local Fire Brigade as a result of a Triple Zero call being received. Your permit conditions will tell you who must be notified before you burn.
The Fire Permits Victoria website also allows you to notify authorities when you plan to use your permit.
Page last updated: Tuesday, 22 September 2026 10:30:43 AM