Building for bushfire protection
- Bushfire prone areas - maps and property report
- Minimum construction standard
- Bushfire prone areas map review
- More information
Bushfire prone areas
Specific bushfire construction standards apply in designated bushfire prone areas in Victoria. These bushfire construction requirements are aimed at improving bushfire protection for residential buildings. The creation of the designated bushfire prone areas fulfills one of the 67 recommendations made by the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.
New designated bushfire prone areas came into effect on 8 September 2011.
What are bushfire prone areas?
Bushfire prone areas are areas that are subject to or likely to be subject to bushfires.
The Minister for Planning has determined that specific areas are designated bushfire prone areas for the purposes of the building control system.
Bushfire Prone Areas Report
The Bushfire Prone Areas Report is a free property report showing the status of land parcels in Victoria relative to the areas that have been designated as being bushfire prone.
The report includes:
- property details
- bushfire prone area status
- a map showing the extent of the designated bushfire prone areas relative to the property.
Enter a property address to obtain a Bushfire Prone Areas Report
Bushfire Prone Areas Interactive Map
The location of designated bushfire prone areas in Victoria may be viewed on our free interactive map service.
This service allows you to:
- navigate to an area of interest by using simple navigation tools
- enter address or location details to find a specific area of land
- obtain a Bushfire Prone Areas Report
- produce a custom map or print for later viewing
Go to the interactive Bushfire Prone Areas Map service
Minimum construction standard
A minimum construction standard applies to all new buildings in a bushfire prone area. Landowners are required to build to a minimum Bushfire Attack Level of 12.5.
A Bushfire Attack Level or BAL is a means of measuring the severity of a building’s potential exposure to ember attack, radiant heat and direct flame contact.
There are six Bushfire Attack Levels: BAL-LOW; BAL-12.5; BAL-19; BAL-29; BAL-40 and BAL-FZ (Flame Zone) which form part of the Australian Standard for construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas (AS 3959-2009).
Bushfire Prone Areas map review
The Bushfire Prone Areas map is based on Department of Sustainability and Environment state-wide hazard mapping, which is underpinned by a scientific framework and methodology. Whilst this methodology is robust, it is important to note that, as with any map, the Bushfire Prone Areas map reflects the data available at the time it is created.
The Department has committed to working with local councils to ensure the map is as accurate and up-to-date as possible.
The Department, with the Growth Areas Authority (GAA), the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) has completed detailed reviews of bushfire prone areas in growth area councils and the maps are currently being updated. On completion, DPCD will make recommendations to the Minister for Planning about any potential changes.
Mapping reviews are now taking place with remaining councils.
More information
Building Commission
Further information about building in bushfire prone areas can be found on the Building Commission website.
Spatial Data
Bushfire prone area data can be downloaded from the Department of Sustainability and Environment's Spatial Datamart.
Building Legislation
Copies of the Building Act and Building Regulations are available from www.legislation.vic.gov.au.
Australian Standards
You can purchase a copy of Australian Standard AS 3959-2009 from SAI Global http://infostore.saiglobal.com/store/