Are Bioethanol Fireplaces Legal in Western Australia

Short answer: Yes. A bioethanol fireplace sold in WA follows the same national law as every other state: the Consumer Goods (Decorative Alcohol Fuelled Devices) Safety Standard 2017 (F2017L00909). WA has no separate law naming bioethanol fireplaces. The real state-specific detail is how DFES treats liquid fuel during a Total Fire Ban, plus the paperwork behind a fixed installation.

The national standard itself, including certification and strata approval, is covered in Are Bioethanol Fireplaces Legal in Australia. This article covers only what WA adds on top. Every unit in My Acre's EcoSmart Fire range is certified against that national standard as a baseline.

Total Fire Ban days and liquid fuel

DFES sets WA's Total Fire Ban rules; its own FAQ is direct. Lighting a fire pit or a 44-gallon drum during a ban is not allowed. Neither is a barbecue, smoker or cooker that burns solid or liquid fuel; DFES names methylated spirits among the banned fuels, alongside kerosene, wood and charcoal. Gas and electric barbecues stay legal, provided the flame is enclosed and kept 5 m clear of anything flammable.

DFES never mentions ethanol or a decorative fireplace by name. Reading a bioethanol fire feature into that same ban is our own read of a nearby rule, not a DFES ruling on this exact product. It burns an open flame on liquid fuel; methylated spirits belongs to the same fuel family as bioethanol. The safer assumption is that the ban covers it too. Breaching a Total Fire Ban carries a $1,000 infringement, or up to $25,000 and 12 months on conviction.

A second, WA-only layer sits underneath the state ban: local councils set their own Restricted and Prohibited Burning Times. Check current dates before you run a fire feature through the warmer months.

Ring Hayden on 1300 515 620 before you buy a fire feature for fire season use. He will check the timing against local dates, not just the appliance rules.

A fixed fireplace in a bushfire-prone area

Most bioethanol fireplaces My Acre sells are portable, so none of this applies; it only matters for a permanent, built-in unit inside a mapped bushfire-prone area.

WA runs six Bushfire Attack Level ratings, from BAL-LOW through BAL-12.5, 19, 29, 40 and BAL-FZ (Flame Zone). Each carries its own construction requirements. A fixed fireplace built in a mapped zone is assessed against the property's own rating, the same as any permanent structure. Confirm your BAL rating with a council or licensed assessor before a built-in design.

Renting in WA: Form 26 or Form 27

A portable fire pit is not a fixture, so it needs no landlord approval.

A fixed, wall-mounted unit is different. Consumer Protection WA splits rental alterations into two forms under the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 (WA). Form 26 covers minor modifications, with a 14-day landlord response window; silence counts as approval. Form 27 covers major modifications, with a 28-day window; a fixed fireplace falls under this pathway. Budget the full 28 days before locking in an installation date.

The honest verdict for WA

There is no WA law written specifically for bioethanol fireplaces. The real work is DFES's Total Fire Ban treatment of liquid fuel, the local burning-times calendar and, only for a built-in unit, a BAL rating and a Form 27. A portable unit clears almost all of it without a single form.

Every EcoSmart fire pit and fire table through My Acre ships with free delivery and our price-beat promise. Hayden checks in within the week of delivery, warranty handled by us if it's ever needed. Browse the EcoSmart Fire range, certified against the ACCC mandate as standard, or get a quote and Hayden will check the approvals against your property before you order.

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Hayden Pearson

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About the author:
“I have a real passion for helping transform outdoor spaces so people can relax, connect and entertain with confidence and pride. With My Acre, I love guiding homeowners to create beautiful and functional outdoor living areas."