Control/Prescribed Burning
Apply for an Open Burning Permit
Open burning refers to the burning of any material in an open space with no chimney to vent the emissions into the atmosphere. This also includes fires set for fire safety training purposes but excludes any recreational or commercial fires, e.g. fires for braaiing and cooking in dedicated areas.
How to apply
Examples of open burning include biodiversity burns of open veld, burning of agricultural stubble, and stack or fuel load reduction burns of biomass. No one may carry out open burning of any material on any land or premises unless the person has first obtained written authorization for open burning from the City’s Air Quality Management Unit, which is part of City Health.
Please note that applications for the Open Burn Permits must now be submitted via the City’s e-Services portal https://eservices.capetown.gov.za/irj/portal.
Please take note that there is designated burning periods for certain types of burns;
- Stack / Fuel Reduction Burns: 1 st May – Mid October
- Agriculture (stubble) Burns: 1 st March - 30 th September
- Prescribed / Ecological / Biodiversity Burns: 1 st February - 30 th April & 1 st September - 30 th November
Step 1: Registration for City e-Services (if not already registered):
- Visit the City of Cape Town website: www.capetown.gov.za.
- Navigate to “City Connect.”
- Select “e-Services” and click on “Register here.”
- Complete all required fields, including your ID/passport number, and create a username.
Step 2: Next Steps
- You will receive an email with a temporary password within 48 hours.
- Log in using the username you created and the temporary password.
- Change the temporary password to one of your choice.
- Complete the questionnaire and upload your identification documents.
- A confirmation email will be sent once your registration is complete.
Allow 7 days from public participation process for neighbouring properties to file an objection, if any, before submitting your Open Burn Permit application.
Step 3: Final Steps
- Activate the "Environmental Health" service.
- Your profile will be activated within approximately five hours, after which you may submit your application for the Open Burn Permit via the e-Services portal.
Mandatory Documents for Submission:
Please ensure that the following documents are attached to your application:
- Public Participation Proof.
- A signed statement of no objections.
- Proof of valid CPFPA membership.
- Third Party Consent to conduct the burn.
Important Note:
Applicants are advised to note the Case ID number, as it is essential for tracking whether the application has been received or not.
