Planning Controls

You are here:

CFA’s role in Victoria's planning system is to provide expert advice to councils and the Minister for Planning.

CFA aims to ensure that new communities can be serviced by emergency services in the event of a fire. CFA also provides bushfire hazard advice to ensure that risks to life, property and infrastructure are considered as part of the planning process.

For general information about Victoria's planning system visit the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) website.

More information in this section

Our role in Victoria's planning process

CFA has a role in several aspects of the planning process in Victoria.

Planning and Bushfire Management Overlay

The Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO) applies to land in Victoria that may be at risk from bushfire. If your land is within the BMO you may need a planning permit to develop or subdivide your property.

Statutory planning subdivision

Subdivision proposals often increase the number of people who could live in a community. CFA recommends that subdivisions are designed appropriately to consider bushfire hazard and emergency access.

Strategic planning

The most effective way to strengthen community resilience to bushfire is to direct settlement growth to locations with a lower bushfire risk.

Bushfire Management Overlay Schedules

The Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO) has been updated to include certain areas within your local planning scheme where preset bushfire protection measures have been established and can be used to fast track and simplify the planning application proc ...