Urban Fire Prevention Bylaw for Waitaki District

Waitaki District Council’s Urban Fire Prevention Bylaw comes into effect from Wednesday 1 July 2009.

The purpose of this bylaw is to minimise the risk of open air fires posing a danger to persons and property, and to prevent smoke from causing a nuisance in urban areas.

Open air fires may only be lit on residential properties in urban areas when there is a distance of 50 metres or more from the fire to the closest part of the boundary of the property.

Open air fires may only be lit on non-residential properties in urban areas if the burning does not occur within 100 metres of any dwelling on any other property.

Users are referred to the Regional Plan: Air for Otago and the ECan Air Plan for Canterbury for further information about relevant regulations concerning air emissions.

The Waitaki District Council operates either a ‘Restricted Fire Season’, a ‘Prohibited Fire Season’ or an ‘Open Fire Season’ throughout the year. The proclamation of a ‘Prohibited Fire Season’ prohibits all fires in the open air in the area designated and suspends any fire permits issued by the Waitaki District Council for that area. Details of fire seasons can be obtained from our Emergency Services Department on (03) 4330300.

A copy of the bylaw along with a flyer containing further information is available by either contacting Oamaru Services Centre on (03) 4330300 or Waihemo Service Centre on (03) 4651106 or by telephone our freephone number: 0800 108 081.