What is a permit?
If you want to burn a pile of garden waste and you reside in an approved location within an emergency response area (ERA), you need a permit. You can apply for this permit from the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service (NTFRS). The NTFRS encourages landowners and occupiers to consider alternatives to burning whenever possible.
If you live in a fire protection zone (FPZ), you can apply for a permit to burn from Bushfires NT. For more information click here.
How do I apply for a permit?
When the permit period is open, you can apply for a permit by visiting a NTFRS fire station or a volunteer fire brigade.
You will need to bring proof of identification.
To apply for a permit:
- Visit a fire station during business hours, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday to Saturday.
- Visit a volunteer fire brigade at the advertised time, which is usually after hours or on weekends.
You can contact a fire station or volunteer fire brigade on the details listed below.
Fire Station | Telephone Number |
Berrimah Fire Station | 08 8946 4142 |
Marrara Fire Station | 08 8995 5222 |
Palmerston Fire Station | 08 8932 1100 |
Humpty Doo Fire Station | 08 8988 0296 |
Katherine Fire Station | 08 8973 8014 |
Alice Springs Fire Station | 08 8951 6688 |
Volunteer Fire Brigades (after hours only) | Telephone number |
Howard Springs Volunteer Fire Station | 0417 952 132 |
Humpty Doo Volunteer Fire Station | 0417 395 516 |
Koolpinyah Volunteer Fire Station | 0418 166 503 |
Virginia – Bees Creek Volunteer Fire Station | 0417 836 382 |
Adelaide River Fire and Emergency Response Group | 0417 349 315 |
Batchelor Fire and Emergency Response Group | 0418 192 078 |
Permits to burn are currently available in the following areas:
Permits to burn are available for the following areas:
- Katherine rural ERA until 16 May 2025.
- Alice Springs ERA south of Heavitree Gap from 2 May 2025.
- Tennant Creek ERA from 2 May 2025.
Each year, the NTFRS sets the start and end dates for permit periods based on vegetation curing along with current and forecast weather conditions for the region. Generally, applications for permits are open during these times:
- For the Litchfield and Katherine ERAs: December to May
- For the Alice Springs ERA: April to September
Burning is not permitted at any time at Darwin or Palmerston areas.
What do I need to know about permits?
Every permit has a set of standard conditions that apply. In some circumstances NTFRS may also apply special conditions.
Not complying with the permit conditions is an offence and can lead to substantial fines or imprisonment.
The standard conditions that apply include:
- A fire must contain garden green waste material only and not of a commercial nature. Garden green waste includes grass clippings, leaves, branches, twigs, weeds and pruning from shrubs and trees.
- The land immediately around and above the burn pile must be cleared of all flammable material to a minimum of a four-metre (4m) distance.
- Each burn pile is to be arranged in a pile or stack no larger than five metres by five metres by five metres (5m x 5m x 5m).
- Firebreaks, complying with the Fire and Emergency Regulations 1996, have been installed and will be maintained.
- A sufficient number of capable persons to control the fire must be present at the location of the fire from the time it is lit to the time it is completely extinguished.
- An adequate supply of water is to be readily available to extinguish the fire.
- The fire must not cause an air pollution problem by producing excessive amounts of smoke.
- A copy of your permit must be readily available from the commencement of lighting the fire until the fire is extinguished.
- If the fire weather forecast issued by the Bureau of Meteorology is high, extreme, catastrophic or if a fire ban has been imposed, no fire shall be lit in the open.
- You must notify the owner or occupier of all adjoining land at least 24 hours before the intended burn date.
- The Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre on 8922 1555 must be notified immediately prior to lighting a fire. Notification is required for each time a fire is lit under the permit.
Report suspicious behaviour
If you witness or suspect unlawful burning immediately call 08 8922 1555 to report it.
Property Signs
The NTFRS advises all owners to make sure their properties are clearly signposted and easy to identify in any emergency, not just fires.
Signs can be purchased directly from Norsign NT for a fee.