Submit an Annual Fire Safety Statement

• For new or altered buildings, the first certificate, called a fire safety certificate, must be submitted for each new or altered essential fire safety measure. No fee applies.
• At least once within every 12 months after the fire safety certificate is completed, an annual fire safety statement must be supplied to us, certifying a competent fire safety practitioner has inspected the building and found that all required fire-safety measures are compliant with relevant standards.
• For existing buildings, every year, within 12 months of the date of the previous annual fire safety statement, the owner of a building must submit an annual fire safety statement to us certifying that each of the measures listed in the most recent fire safety schedule installed on the premises remain capable of operating to the standards listed in the schedule.

It is an offence to fail to provide the statement. Substantial and continuing weekly penalty notices apply for this offence:

• 1 week late $1,000
• 2 weeks late an additional $2,000
• 3 weeks late an additional $3,000
• 4 weeks late an additional $4,000.

Although it is not required to do so by law, Byron Shire Council sends a courtesy reminder letter to the owner of affected premises care of the address provided for rates and notices. However, we accept no responsibility for any reliance upon it and the legal responsibility for providing the statement when its due, rests with the owner of the premises.

Failure to submit an annual fire safety statement could also lead to legal proceedings in the Land and Environment Court, where the maximum penalty for a breach is $110,000.

In situations where you cannot lodge your annual fire safety statement by its due date, building owners can apply for an extension of time to submit the statement.

We are unlikely to approve applications involving poor building site management.

To make a request email firesafety@byron.nsw.gov.au