Water tanks in Victoria
In Victoria's Bushfire Management Overlay the static water supply must be in a concrete or metal tank, so a plastic tank alone will not meet that requirement. Source
Do I need approval?
No permit
Building
A free-standing external tank does not need a building permit. A tank inside or supported by a building may need one because of the weight. Victorian Building Authority
Check
Planning
Planning rules vary by council. The City of Monash, for example, needs no planning permit for a tank up to 4,500 L on residential land outside a Heritage Overlay. City of Monash
BMO
Bushfire
In the Bushfire Management Overlay the static water supply must be in a concrete or metal tank, with CFA fittings on larger lots. CFA template
Bushfire water
On a 4,000 m² lot without mains or hydrant: 10,000 L. Concrete or metal, above ground. 64 mm CFA 3 thread per inch male coupling, gravity feed, CFA access.
Bushfire Management Overlay single dwelling measures. Swimming pools and dams do not count. Source
New homes and renovations
In the Bushfire Management Overlay a lot over 1,000 m² must give the CFA access to at least 10,000 L of static water. CFA The CFA outlet needs a 64 mm, 3 thread per inch male coupling and must sit lower than the tank outlet for gravity feed. CFA template
What size works here
Regional Victoria uses tanks far more than Melbourne: 46 percent of regional households had a tank in 2009, against 22 percent in Melbourne. ABS
Melbourne averages 648 mm of rain a year. Bureau of Meteorology Rural blocks off mains need far more storage than a suburban toilet and laundry tank; work it out in the size calculator with your own roof area.
1,000 L3,000 L5,000 L10,000 L22,500 L46,400 L
Size a tank for VICRebates
| Program | What | Until | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Gippsland and Towong Bushfire-affected properties | Rainwater and septic tank replacement after bushfire. | Applications closed 29 May 2026 | Closed |
From council and water-utility pages, checked 13 Nov 2026. All rebates
Suppliers for VIC
| Supplier | Materials | Delivery area, as the supplier states it |
|---|---|---|
| Kingspan Water Tanks | steel, poly | Australia-wide |
| Tank Shop | poly, steel | Poly: SE QLD and northern NSW. Aquaplate: SE QLD, NSW, VIC. Delivery map on each product page |
| Clark Tanks | poly | Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria; also through Bunnings |
| ASC Water Tanks stockist | poly | Bushmans tanks available in VIC and SA only, per product page |
| Bunnings (special order) stockist | poly, steel | Stores Australia-wide; tanks are mostly special order |
Unclaimed listings from the suppliers' own pages, checked 13 Nov 2026. We have checked suppliers mainly for south east Queensland and northern NSW so far; more for VIC follow. Supply VIC? Claim or add a listing.
Questions
Can I use a poly tank for fire water?
Not for the static water supply in the Bushfire Management Overlay. It must be concrete or metal. CFA template
Do I need a planning permit?
It depends on your council. The City of Monash needs none for tanks up to 4,500 L on residential land outside a Heritage Overlay. City of Monash