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Building in a bush fire area

The following documents are obsolete and have been archived as of 1 July 2026. They can be accessed via request from the RFS Library:
  • Pre-DA Advice
  • Fact Sheet - BAL Rating
  • Policy Note - Complying Development on Grasslands
  • Practice Note 3/12 - Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) and Complying Development Certificate (CDC) Checklist
The following documents are obsolete and were archived as of 30 January 2025. They can also be accessed via request from the RFS Library:
  • Fact Sheet 2/10 - BCA 2010 Transition
  • Fact sheet 3/17 - Intumescent Paints
  • Fast Fact 2/07 - Request to Review Recommendations
  • Fast Fact 5/07 - Western NSW District
  • Practice Note 1/07 - Alternate Solutions
  • Practice Note 1/12 - Establishment of Easements for the Purpose of APZs
  • Practice Note 4/12 - ‘In principle’ Masterplan Agreements in Bush Fire Prone Areas
  • Practice Note 5/12 - Reuse of Rezoning Reports on Bush Fire Prone Land
  • Council Checklist for Integrated Development in Bush Fire Prone Areas (section 100B)
  • Council Checklist for Infill Development in Bush Fire Prone Areas (Section 79BA)
  • User Guide - BAL Risk Assessment

Addendum to Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019: January 2025

This Addendum is in relation to construction of all primary and/or secondary schools located on bush fire prone land and prescribes bush fire protection measures relating to access and internal tenability which are to be implemented in relation to the construction of school buildings. Addendum to PBP 2025 makes amendments to PBP, Addendum to PBP 2022, and Section G5 of the National Construction Code, 2022.

Addendum to Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019: November 2022

This Addendum is in relation to amendments to the bush fire protection provisions NCC 2022. This includes a suite of new provisions for Class 9 Buildings in bush fire prone areas that accommodate certain types of vulnerable occupants. This Addendum aligns PBP with the NCC 2022.

Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019

Released in November 2019 and legislated on 1 March 2020. This document contains provides the development standards for designing and building on bush fire prone land.

Guidance Document – Application of section 100B

This document provides guidance on the issuing of a bush fire safety authority under section 100B of the Rural Fires Act 1997 for development on land mapped as bush fire prone land, the planning pathways for application of section 100B of the Rural Fires Act 1997 and the application of section 100B of the Rural Fires Act 1997 on partially mapped bush fire prone land.

Guidance document Issuing a Bush Fire Safety Authority for Integrated Development from 1 July 2026

This document provides guidance on the issuing of a Bush Fire Safety Authority (BFSA) for integrated development from 1 July 2026. Under the new process, the Development Coordination Authority issues the general terms of approval during the development application process, while the NSW Rural Fire Service continues to issue the BFSA after development consent is granted. Applicants must apply to the RFS for a BFSA before carrying out the development.

Fact Sheet - Requirements for Suitably Qualified Consultants

This fact sheet advises councils, applicants, State agencies and other groups involved in the development application process on what the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) recognises as a suitably qualified consultant in bush fire risk assessment.

Single Dwelling Application Kit

The Single Dwelling Application Kit is intended to be used to provide the relevant consent authority with the information needed so that they can assess your proposed development in accordance with the EP&A Act section 4.14.This kit will assist people building a new house or altering or adding to an existing building on bush fire prone land. Not all councils will accept the single dwelling application kit so check with your local council before proceeding.

Comprehensive Vegetation Fuel Loads

The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide all stakeholders in the bush fire industry with the detailed fuel load information which underpins the APZ distances in the Pre-Release version of Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2018 (PBP).

Building Best Practice Guide

This document is designed to provide the community with advice regarding what the NSW RFS recommends as best practice for developing in bush fire prone areas. All development on bush fire prone land should comply with the relevant recommendations and requirements identified.

Vegetation Classification Chart

This classification chart will assist in the assessment of vegetation for developments in bush fire prone areas.

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