tags: #publish links: [[Australia Property Planning and Development Regulations]], [[Bushfires and Property]] created: 2020-09-09 Wed --- # RFS Bushfire Regulations Mar 2020 [Planning for Bush Fire Protection - NSW Rural Fire Service](https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare/building-in-a-bush-fire-area/planning-for-bush-fire-protection) [Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019 regs (PDF)](https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/174272/Planning-for-Bush-Fire-Protection-2019.pdf) Houses within a few tens of metres of the bush (even small areas) may be *"designated bushfire areas"*. This means some development is restricted, or certain conditions placed to reduce risk e.g. building materials, heat resistance. Also higher insurance costs. A few tens of metres further away, they're no longer *"designated bushfire areas"*. ## Increases the risk: - Steep slopes, anywhere downslope even some way from the property. This applies even if the area near the property is quite shallow. - Short distance from bush. e.g. <15m is very high risk, <40-50m is a lower category, >50m is lower again. Need at least 36+m clearance from dry sclerophyll that's downslope to reduce risk category much at all. - Vegetation type - Dry sclerophyll forest is the worst, then wet sclerophyll, then various others ## Decreases the risk: - If the property is downslope of the bush. Considered low risk. ## Restrictions on vegetation From one of the neighbour's DAs' bushfire report: sounds like areas in the red zone might have vegetation restrictions: > NSW Rural Fire Service’s document ‘Standards for Asset Protection Zones’. Note: This will allow for native trees and shrubs in the APZ to be retained or planted as clumps or islands, covering of no more than 20% of the area.