Fire Permit

You may need a permit to light a fire in the open. It depends on the fire season and where you live. 

Check the current fire season status

Lighting a fire on a property in the city

• You cannot light an open rubbish fire if you have a neighbour within 50 metres.  Please check with us first.
• You will need a permit for a hangi or umu.

To apply for a permit online

Lighting a fire on a rural property

• You may need a permit to light a fire in the open.  It depends on the rural fire season and where you live  - please check with us first
• Read and download the pamphlet - Is your property at risk from fire? 

To apply for a permit online

Can you use an incinerator

Again it depends on the rural fire season.  If the season is Prohibited - you are not allowed to light your incinerator.

You must use an incinerator that is specifically designed and constructed.  Old drums are not suitable unless they have been specially adapted as an incinerator.

Your incinerator should have:

• A grate system to allow a free flow of air through the incinerator to aid burning.
• A cover to contain the burning material .
• A spark catcher to prevent the escape of sparks and embers.

Your incinerator must be more than 5 meters from the boundary, buildings or anything that could catch on fire.

Be a good neighbour 

Consider your neighbours when lighting an incinerator or fire.  You must:  

• only burn during daylight hours - no fires are allowed after dusk or before dawn  
• only burn dry organic material - no green waste
• only light your incinerator occasional - do not burn every week or weekend
• under no circumstances burn plastic including disposable nappies
• consider your neighbours - do not burn when it's windy, or if they have washing on the line
• consider recycling, composting, mulching or Second-hand Sunday collections
• not light your incinerator in a prohibited fire season

Do you need a permit for a hangi or umu?

If you live in an urban area a permit is required all-year round regardless of the fire season.   

If you live in a rural area a fire permit is required in a Restricted fire season.  Check the current status.

A permit can take up to 3 days to issue.

During a Prohibited Fire Season, special circumstances can be excluded such as a Tangi  or funeral, please check with us.

If you are selling your hangi, you also need a food stall permit.   Please check with us.

To apply for a permit online