Can a dual occupancy be built in a bushfire-prone area?

Yes, potentially. A dual occupancy can be built in a Bushfire Prone Area (BPA), but additional bushfire planning and construction requirements apply.

The ACT Bushfire Management Standards apply to all development within a mapped Bushfire Prone Area, including residential development. The proposal must respond to the site's bushfire risk and incorporate the applicable Bushfire Protection Measures, which may include building separation and defendable space, appropriate emergency access and egress, construction standards, services and vegetation/fuel management.

Being in a Bushfire Prone Area therefore does not automatically prohibit a dual occupancy, but the development must satisfy the applicable bushfire requirements.

Reference Emergencies Bushfire Management Standards 2025 (NI2025-265) - https://www.legislation.act.gov.au/View/ni/2025-265/current/html/2025-265.html