If your Annual Fire Safety Statement has slipped past its due date, you are not the first building owner it has happened to, and it is fixable. The important thing is to act quickly, because an overdue statement can attract penalties and can prompt your council to step in. This guide explains what "overdue" actually means in NSW, what can happen if you leave it, and the practical steps to get compliant fast.
What does "overdue" mean for an AFSS?
An Annual Fire Safety Statement must be lodged every 12 months, within the same period each year as the previous statement. In simple terms, if your last statement was lodged in March, your next one is due by the end of that same period the following year. Miss that window and the statement is overdue, even if it is only late by a few days.
The requirement sits under the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation, which governs how and when statements must be issued and lodged. The statement confirms that each essential fire safety measure in your building has been inspected and assessed by a competent fire safety practitioner and is capable of performing to the standard it was designed for.
What happens if my AFSS is overdue?
Two things tend to follow an overdue statement. First, penalties can apply, and they can escalate the longer the statement remains unlodged. Councils commonly issue penalty notices for late or non-lodged statements, and ongoing non-compliance can lead to further action. We do not quote a dollar figure here because amounts change, so confirm current penalties with your council.
Second, your council can issue a fire safety order. This is a formal legal notice that directs you to carry out work or comply by a set date. Fire safety orders raise the stakes considerably, and they can affect the building's approvals and its standing at sale or lease. If you have received one, treat it as urgent and get an accredited practitioner involved straight away. Our fire orders service is built for exactly this situation.
How do I fix an overdue AFSS fast?
The path back to compliance is straightforward when you take it in order. Here is the sequence we follow for clients across Sydney and the surrounding regions.
- Book an accredited inspection. An FPAA-accredited practitioner inspects and assesses every essential fire safety measure listed on your fire safety schedule, from exit and emergency lighting to fire doors, extinguishers and smoke alarms.
- Rectify any defects. If the inspection finds measures that are not performing as required, they are repaired or replaced. You cannot issue a valid statement while a measure is defective, so this step matters.
- Re-test the measures. Once defects are rectified, the affected measures are re-tested to confirm they now meet the required standard.
- Issue and lodge the statement. With every measure assessed and passing, the practitioner issues the statement. You then lodge it with your council and give a copy to Fire and Rescue NSW, and display a copy in the building.
The faster you start, the sooner the clock stops on any accruing penalty exposure. Our fire safety inspections are carried out to Australian Standards, and we offer same-week bookings so an overdue statement does not drag on.
Who can sign off my Annual Fire Safety Statement?
Each measure must be assessed by a competent fire safety practitioner who is accredited for that type of measure. This is not a form you can simply fill in yourself. Blaze Fire Safety is a team of FPAA-accredited fire safety practitioners, which means the assessment and the statement we issue stand up to council scrutiny. You can read more about the whole process on our Annual Fire Safety Statements page.
How long does it take to get compliant again?
If your measures are in good order, an inspection and a clean statement can often be turned around within the same week. Where defects are found, the timeline depends on the parts and works needed, but we move quickly and keep you informed at each step. The key is to book the inspection now rather than waiting, because every week an overdue statement sits unlodged is a week of avoidable risk.
Does this apply to my building?
Most commercial and multi-unit residential buildings in NSW with essential fire safety measures need an Annual Fire Safety Statement. That includes offices, retail, warehouses, strata blocks and mixed-use buildings. We work across metro Sydney, including the Sydney CBD, as well as the Central Coast, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra and South Coast, so wherever your building sits we can help.
Get your overdue AFSS sorted this week
An overdue statement will not fix itself, and it tends to get more expensive and more stressful the longer it waits. The good news is that a single accredited inspection usually puts you back on a clear path to compliance. Blaze Fire Safety is FPAA-accredited, rated 5.0 on Google, and all our work is carried out to Australian Standards. Get in touch for a free quote and same-week booking through our contact page, or call us on (02) 5760 8991, and we will help you get compliant fast.