Prepare your property for upcoming fire season

The City of Mandurah is reminding local landowners to prepare their properties for the upcoming fire season. 

Bushfire safety is a shared responsibility between property owners, the City of Mandurah, and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). 

Landowners are being urged to plan ahead and take steps to reduce the risk of bushfires at their property, with the City assisting by conducting property inspections and advising of any further actions required.

Starting 18 November 2026, all properties within the city are inspected for fire safety. Fire prevention requirements on properties must be in place by 17 November 2026 and should be maintained until the end of May 2027.

For occupied or unoccupied land less than 4000sqm, landowners are required to:

• Have the entire property clear of all flammable materials except for living standing trees, growing bushes and plants in gardens, and lawns

• Mow or slash to a height of no more than 4cm 

For occupied or unoccupied land 4000sqm and over, landowners are required to provide a trafficable mineral earth firebreak of 4 metres wide, with a vertical height clearance of 4.2 metres: 

• Immediately inside all external boundaries of the land

• Immediately surrounding all outbuildings erected on the land

• Immediately surrounding haystacks or fuel storage

• On the land’s driveway access 

A minimum two-metre gap between trees/shrubs and any habitable building must be maintained, and no part of any tree should overhang habitable buildings. 

Landowners are encouraged to contact the City to determine if their property is within a Tree Preservation Area and to seek further advice on tree clearing and pruning guidelines.

Managing bushfire risk is a year-round activity, and throughout the year the City undertakes several preventative initiatives and helps residents be better prepared in case of a bushfire. This includes fuel reduction activities, fire management plans, vegetation management strategies, fire breaks, community education, and enforcement.

All residents are strongly encouraged to have a bushfire plan to keep their house and property safe. Go to mybushfireplan.wa.gov.au to begin or review your plan. Another helpful tool for residents and landowners is the Emergency WA app which provides an official source of information during emergencies.

For more information about fire safety, go to mandurah.wa.gov.au/fire