You can burn on any properties, according to state regulations. The Smoke Regulations do set out rules for burning on land areas less than 2000m²:
- The backyard burning is done according to any relevant fire permit, Environment Protection Notice (EPN) or Council bylaw.
- All practical means are taken to prevent or minimise air pollution (considering weather conditions, nearby neighbours and only burning dry vegetation).
Before you burn anything in your backyard, please check if there are fire bans, alerts or permit requirements with Tasmania Fire Service or call 03 6173 2740.
In addition, section 53 of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 has a requirement that when undertaking backyard burning a person should not cause an ‘environmental nuisance’. This includes smoke emissions.
Even if you are acting in accordance with the Smoke Regulations, your burning activities may still have the potential to create an environmental nuisance. It is your responsibility to do everything you can to minimise the smoke you create.
Please note, burning should only be used as a last resort.
If you must burn, help avoid a nuisance to neighbouring properties by:
- Burn with a clear flame and don’t let the fire smoulder and smoke.
- Consider the wind direction and wind speed to see where any smoke might blow and if it is safe to light the fire.
- Check the weather conditions at the Bureau of Meteorology for any current weather warnings.
- Assess the length of time that the vegetation or vegetative waste being burnt is likely to burn.
- Consider the proximity of any nearby residents.
- Ensure you only burn clean/untreated and uncontaminated wood, dry vegetation and dry vegetative waste.
- Ensure the vegetation or vegetative waste is suitable for disposal by burning.
Under the Smoke Regulations you cannot burn:
- asbestos
- tyres
- coated wire
- paint containers and residues
- chemical containers and residues
- timber treated with copper chrome arsenate (CCA), pentachlorophenol (PCP), oil or any other chemical
- rubber
- painted wood
- plastic
- oil
- household waste
- linen
- foam rubber
- polystyrene
Penalties may apply should you not adhere to this as a guide.
Barbecues and other small fires used solely for heating or cooking are not considered to be backyard burning. However, if you use them to get rid of vegetative or other types of waste, then the above backyard burning restrictions do apply. The requirements for wood-fired heating and cooking can be found at EPA Tasmania’s website page.
More information
- For more information on wood moisture levels visit the Firewood Association of Australia website.
- For more information on effective wood heater usage and on a review of existing regulations visit the EPA website.
- The Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services provides more information on outdoor smoke and your health and air quality real time data from sites around Tasmania.
- For more information on backyard burning, go to State Government’s Environmental Protection Authority’s website.