Chimneys and fireplaces in Victoria sit at the intersection of building regulations, environmental requirements and appliance standards. Installing a new wood heater requires a building permit. The appliance must meet EPA-mandated emission standards. The installation must comply with AS/NZS 2918. Gas fireplaces must be installed by a licensed gasfitter under Energy Safe Victoria oversight. And burning wood on EPA declared days in metropolitan Melbourne is prohibited. This guide covers each requirement clearly so Melbourne homeowners know what applies to them.
Building Permits for Chimney Work
The Building Regulations 2018 (Vic) govern when a building permit is required, and chimney and heater installation is firmly within their scope.
A building permit is generally required for: installing a new wood heater in a home where one did not previously exist; installing a new chimney or flue system; and in most cases, replacing an existing heater with a different model where the flue, hearth or clearances require alteration. Work that is clearly maintenance — cleaning, inspection, replacing a cap, repointing mortar — does not require a permit. A registered building surveyor in your local council area can confirm the permit requirement for your specific job before you proceed. See the full installation picture in our guide on slow combustion heater installation in Victoria.
Unpermitted work has real consequences: it may fail a building inspection at sale, void home insurance for incidents related to the work, and leave the homeowner liable if a fault causes injury or damage.
EPA Victoria Requirements
EPA Victoria plays two distinct roles in wood heater regulation: appliance standards and air quality management.
Appliance standards: wood heaters sold and installed in Victoria must meet the emission and efficiency requirements in AS/NZS 4013. This standard sets maximum particle emission levels and minimum efficiency thresholds that heaters must achieve to be approved for sale. Practically, this means you can only legally install a current, approved model — not a second-hand, non-compliant or imported heater that has not been tested to the standard. See also our guide on Victorian wood heater rules.
Declared wood heater ban days: under the Environment Protection Act 2017, EPA Victoria can declare days when burning wood in residential wood heaters in metropolitan Melbourne is prohibited. These declarations are made when air quality is forecast to be poor — typically cold, still winter days when smoke tends to settle. They are announced through the EPA AirWatch app and website and are enforceable. On a declared day, do not use your wood heater regardless of how cold it is. Burning seasoned hardwood and running an efficient approved heater reduces your contribution to air quality problems on all other days.
AS/NZS Installation Standards
Two Australian standards govern the installation of domestic solid-fuel heating in Victoria, and compliance with both is required for a legal installation.
AS/NZS 2918 covers the design and installation of chimneys and flue systems for solid-fuel appliances — wood heaters, slow-combustion heaters and open fireplaces. It specifies: the minimum flue height above the roofline required for adequate draught and safe discharge; clearances from combustible building materials that must be maintained around the flue and the appliance; hearth dimensions and construction requirements; and cap specifications. Any installation that does not meet AS/NZS 2918 — insufficient clearances, wrong flue height, inadequate hearth — may not pass a building inspection and creates a safety risk.
AS/NZS 4013 covers the heater appliance itself rather than the installation — specifying the emission and efficiency performance the heater must achieve. Together, the two standards form the technical backbone of a legal wood heater installation in Victoria: the appliance must be compliant (4013) and installed correctly (2918).
Energy Safe Victoria and Gas Appliances
Gas fireplaces and gas log fires are regulated separately from wood heaters, primarily through Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) rather than EPA.
ESV administers the Gas Safety Act 1997 and associated regulations, which require all gas work in Victoria — including gas fireplace installation and flue work — to be carried out by a licensed gasfitter. The installation must comply with AS/NZS 5601 (gas installations standard) and the appliance manufacturer's specification. ESV licences gas practitioners, investigates gas incidents, and has enforcement powers where unlicensed work or unsafe installations are found.
The practical obligations for gas fireplace owners: only engage a licensed gasfitter for installation or flue work (you can verify a licence through the ESV register); have the appliance serviced according to the manufacturer's schedule; and arrange periodic flue inspection — every two to three years — to confirm the flue is clear and venting correctly. See gas fireplace flue requirements and carbon monoxide and chimney safety.