Fire breaks and compliance
Fire breaks isolate separate areas by wide strips designed to reduce or halt the progression of fire in bush, pasture, forest or vacant land. Fire breaks help reduce the spread of bushfire and provide safe access for firefighting vehicles, helping to protect life, property and the environment. View the Fire Break and Hazard Reduction Notice 2026-2027 for more information.
By preparing your property with fire breaks and maintaining an asset protection zone, you can significantly reduce the spread and impact of fires, while also helping emergency services to respond more effectively. Following the City’s Firebreak and Hazard Reduction Notice is not just a safety measure but a legal requirement to avoid fines and penalties.
What you need to do
Each year, prior to 1 November, all owners or occupiers of land within the City of Melville are required to clear inflammable matter from their land and maintain this until 30 April the following year.
Inflammable matter
Inflammable matter includes any dead or dry grass, vegetation, substance, object, thing or material that may catch fire and burn, or is likely to catch fire and burn, excluding living trees, shrubs, plants under cultivation and maintained lawns. Inflammable matter also includes any other material or thing on the land that, in the opinion of the City or its Authorised Officer, is or is likely to be conducive to the outbreak, spread or extension of a bush fire.
If your property is 1,500 square metres or smaller, or is zoned “Residential”, you must:
A. clear and remove all inflammable matter from the whole of the land, except living trees, shrubs, plants under cultivation and lawns;
B. keep living lawns trimmed to a height of 50mm or less during the Firebreak Period.
If your property is larger than 1,500 square metres, or is not zoned “Residential”, you must:
A. clear firebreaks at least 3 metres wide, with a minimum vertical clearance of 4 metres, inside all external boundaries of the land;
B. clear firebreaks at least 5 metres wide, with a minimum vertical clearance of 3 metres, around all buildings on the land; and
C. if the land is larger than 10 hectares, clear firebreaks at least 5 metres wide so that no area of land within the firebreak exceeds 10 hectares.
Requirements that apply to all properties
In addition to the requirements for your property category, all owners and occupiers must also:
A. ensure any required firebreaks are cleared to the satisfaction of the City’s Authorised Officer; and
B. ensure the roofs, gutters and walls of all buildings on the land are free of inflammable matter.
Please note that if you have an approved building licence that has been issued by the City of Melville, and construction has not commenced by 1 November of that year, you are required to comply with the Bush Fires Act 1954 and clear the land.
Please also note properties with houses are also required to comply with the Bush Fires Act 1954 by removing all flammable matter from the property and verge prior to 1 November each year.
What the City will do
The annual Fire Break and Hazard Reduction Notice applies from 1 November to 30 April each year. The City of Melville will send out a written notification to maintain the land.
MelSafe will inspect properties during November/December to ensure compliance.
Should you fail to install the firebreak or clear land of flammable matter, you will be liable for an infringement of $250, or a fine with a penalty of up to $5,000, as well as the cost of performing the work.
It is important to note that the burning of rubbish, refuse, vegetation or offensive matter is prohibited within the City of Melville, except where written approval has been issued by Health Services for use of an approved incinerator unit.
Reporting a fire hazard
If you believe a bushfire-related hazard poses a threat or significantly increases the potential spread of a bushfire, you can report the property to MelSafe on 131 247.
When reporting a bushfire-related hazard, please specify the location (private property address or reserve name) and details of the hazard. The City will investigate all reports and take the necessary action to ensure the safety of our community.
Bushfire safety and preparing your property
Over 90% of Western Australia is bushfire prone and bushfire can start at any time. Whether you live in a regional area, the suburbs or the inner city, everyone needs to be prepared. Creating a bushfire plan can take just 15 minutes and is the best way to keep you and your household safe. Use the Emergency WA tool to create an emergency plan.
For more information on preparing for an emergency, visit our page on Emergency Management.