Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Assessment Report

Issuing authority

State planning and building authorities (VBA in VIC, NSW Department of Planning via local councils, QFES in QLD, SAFIRE in SA, DFES in WA, TFS in TAS); assessments conducted by BPAD-accredited consultants or fire authorities under AS 3959:2018

Official source

How to apply

1. Confirm whether your land is designated as bushfire-prone under your state's planning scheme (check council's planning maps, overlays such as Victoria's BMO/BPAO, or NSW Bushfire Prone Land maps)
2. Engage a qualified BAL assessor — this must be a suitably qualified person (e.g., BPAD Level 1 or 2 accredited consultant, or a fire authority officer); contact Fire Protection Association Australia for a list of accredited assessors
3. Provide the assessor with your site address, survey plan, and any available vegetation mapping; the assessor visits the site to measure distance from vegetation, classify vegetation type, and record slope
4. The assessor applies the methodology in AS 3959:2018 using the Relevant Fire Danger Index, vegetation type, distance to vegetation, and slope to calculate the BAL rating (BAL-Low, 12.5, 19, 29, 40, or FZ)
5. Receive the completed BAL Assessment Report, which documents the methodology, site data, and assigned BAL rating
6. Submit the BAL Report with your development application (DA) to council or your building permit application to your building surveyor
7. Your building designer/architect uses the BAL rating to specify compliant construction materials and methods under AS 3959:2018
8. The building surveyor reviews the BAL Report and compliant design before issuing the building permit

Related topics

Related forms

• Building Permit Application (Multi-state: VIC Form 1 / WA BA1 & BA2 / QLD Building Approval / NSW Development Application)VIC: Form 1 (Application for a Building Permit); NSW: DA form via NSW Planning Portal; QLD: No fixed form number — lodged with private certifier or council; WA: BA1 (certified) / BA2 (uncertified)
• Occupancy Permit / Occupation Certificate (Multi-state: VIC Form 15/16 / NSW OC / QLD Form 11)VIC: Form 15 (Application for Occupancy Permit) + Form 16 (Occupancy Permit); NSW: Occupation Certificate (no fixed form number — lodged via NSW Planning Portal); QLD: Form 11 (Certificate/Interim Certificate of Occupancy, replacing certificate of classification from October 2020)
• Owner-Builder Permit / Licence — QLD, WA, SA, ACT and NTQLD: Owner-Builder Permit Application Form (form-ob-permit-application.pdf); WA: Form 75 (Approval — Owner-builder, updated; old version invalid from 1 June 2026); SA: CBS Online Form (via cbs.sa.gov.au/online-forms); ACT: Application for Construction Occupation Licence — Individual Owner Builder (forms.act.gov.au form code 1166); NT: Owner Builder Application Form (bpb.nt.gov.au)
• Home Building Compensation Fund (HBCF) Certificate of Insurance — NSW / Domestic Building Insurance Certificate — VIC / Home Indemnity Insurance Certificate — WA / QBCC Home Warranty Insurance
• Annual Fire Safety Statement (AFSS) — NSW