A controlled burn permit is valid for 12 months from the date of issue but may not be used during the official fire season, which in the Western Cape typically runs from November/December to February/March each year.
As a general rule, the municipality prefers that controlled burns be carried out for agricultural purposes only (such as clearing fields for regrowth), and not for biomass reduction. Please consider alternatives such as chipping.
The municipality appeals to the public to remain fire-aware throughout the year. Always exercise extreme caution, make fires only in protected and designated areas, and dispose of cigarette butts safely. The burning of garden refuse in residential areas is illegal.
The issuing of valid controlled burn permits resumed on 1 April 2025 but remains subject to prevailing weather conditions.
TOLL-FREE DISASTER NUMBER: 087 152 9999
FIRE EMERGENCIES: 044 801 6311
