AFSS due date calculator
Find your next annual fire safety statement due date and the 3-month assessment booking window. Enter the date of your most recent AFSS lodgement, or the date on your fire safety schedule if this is your first AFSS.
Dates are calculated using the 12-month annual cycle and 3-month assessment window under the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021 (NSW). This is a general guide only. Confirm exact dates with your accredited practitioner and your council.
How the AFSS cycle works
The annual fire safety statement obligation runs on a 12-month cycle. The due date is 12 months from the date of the most recent AFSS (or 12 months from the date on the fire safety schedule for a building lodging for the first time). Each year the cycle repeats on the same anniversary.
The assessment that supports the statement must be carried out within the 3 months before the statement is issued. That 3-month period is the assessment booking window. Booking outside that window means the assessment does not satisfy the Regulation requirement, even if the practitioner is accredited. Book as soon as the window opens, not at the last minute, because scheduling and rectification can take time.
What to do with your dates
Once you know your assessment window opening date, put it in your building management calendar with a reminder. Contact an accredited fire safety practitioner to schedule the inspection of every measure on your fire safety schedule. If any measure fails, rectification must be completed before the statement can be signed, so allow time for that too.
After the assessment, the owner (or their nominated agent, who must not be the same person who carried out the assessment) signs and lodges the statement with both the local council and Fire and Rescue NSW. Record the lodgement date immediately, because that date sets the next cycle.
Frequently asked questions
How is the AFSS due date calculated?
The annual fire safety statement is due 12 months after the date of the most recent AFSS lodgement (or 12 months after the fire safety schedule date for a building lodging for the first time). The Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021 (NSW) sets the 12-month cycle.
What is the 3-month assessment booking window?
The accredited practitioner's assessment of each essential fire safety measure must be carried out within the 3 months before the date the annual fire safety statement is issued. Booking too early means the assessment falls outside that window. The calculator marks the opening of that window so you can book at the right time.
What if my building has a new or amended fire safety schedule?
If council has issued a new or amended fire safety schedule (for example, after building work), the anniversary date resets to the date of that new schedule. Use the date of the new schedule as your reference date, not the prior AFSS.
What happens if I miss the AFSS due date?
Councils issue penalty notices for late lodgement. Penalties escalate the longer the statement is outstanding. Some councils, including the City of Sydney, publish their late-lodgement penalty schedule. Lodging even after the due date is better than not lodging at all, but prompt lodgement avoids the penalties entirely.
Is this calculator legally binding?
No. This tool provides a general guide based on the standard 12-month cycle and 3-month window under the Regulation. Your specific due date depends on the exact date recorded on your fire safety schedule or most recent AFSS. Confirm exact dates with your accredited practitioner and your council.
Sources
- Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021 (NSW).
- NSW Planning Portal, fire safety certification.
- City of Sydney, register your annual fire safety statement (late-lodgement penalty schedule).
This is general information, not legal or compliance advice. Confirm current requirements and exact dates with your council and an accredited practitioner.