Backyard fires (smoke & fumes)

Under Council’s Local Laws you may not light a fire that:

• Disrupts or inhibits an activity ordinarily carried out on adjoining or nearby residential premises.
• Could cause irritation (smoke or fumes), annoyance or distress to others.
• A person must not light or maintain a fire if the fire exposes property to risk of damage or destruction by fire.

Burning off

You can obtain a 'permit to light fire' for burning off (such as burning garden or other rubbish in an incinerator, on vacant land or on a road reserve) from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (except where the fire is not permitted under Local Laws).

Cooking fires

You can light a fire, such as a barbecue, for cooking purposes but you MUST make sure the fire does not cause excessive smoke, irritation or annoyance to others.

Strictly prohibited

A person must not burn green waste such as branches and leaves, cardboard, plastics, paper products or any other material other than prescribed wood matter appropriate for barbeques and firepits.

What we do

When investigating complaints about smoke and fumes we consider:

• The material used for the fire
• The amount of smoke being emitted
• The location and purpose of the fire
• The views of neighbours and those making a complaint.

Penalty

We can issue a $863 fine to anyone lighting a fire that doesn’t comply with the Local Law ( PDF, 0.34 MB ).