Is my wood burner illegal? Homeowners warned they could risk £300 fine

New regulations explained ahead of the colder weather

Having a wood burner adds extra warmth and an instant cosy feeling to the home, but could you be running the risk of harm to your health?

Some appliances that burn solid fuel, such as wood burning or multi-fuel stoves releases gases, can be dangerous. To lower the risk of harmful pollutants from domestic burning, new rules came into play last month which could see local councils in England issuing fines for the unlawful use of log burners.

It’s not just your own well-being at risk if you’re using a log burner improperly. Failing to follow the new guidelines could also lead to financial penalties for emitting smoke into the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution with can be harmful to the health of those around you.

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As of 2022, new laws came into power that dictate the type of log burner you can purchase and what you can burn in it. However, some of the laws only came into effect recently, so experts are warning many people could fall foul of them this winter.

Here's what you need to know.

Are log burners now illegal?

The experts at the Energy Saving Trust confirm that this is not the case. While restrictions are being tightened, there are no current plans to completely outlaw wood burners anywhere in the UK.

Explain that the UK government’s Environmental Improvement Plan, they say: "The UK government recognises that some households are reliant on solid fuel burning as a primary source for heating, hot water and cooking, with this in mind government is not seeking to ban burning."

People do, however, face potential fines of £300 if they do not follow the rules. More than one and a half million Brits have wood-burning stoves in their homes and the majority of households in England are now located within Smoke Control Areas, also known as 'smokeless zones.'

According to DEFRA, these are regions across the UK where it is illegal to release significant amounts of smoke from a chimney. In these zones, stricter regulations on domestic burning are in place, with fines issued through a civil enforcement system.

Anyone who owns a log burner or is thinking of having one installed can check if they live in a smoke-controlled area here.

What are the wood burner regulations?

Over time the rules and regulations have been tightened up to protect both the homeowner and the environment. According to the Energy Saving Trust, these must be adhered to for your safety and to stay within the law.

• If you live in a smoke control area, new wood burners can’t emit more than 3g of smoke per hour.

• If your log burner is on the list of Defra-exempt appliances that produce fewer smoke emissions, you can apply for an exemption.

• You must use an approved fuel, which varies depending on where in the UK you live. As of the summer of 2023, it is illegal to burn coal (excluding smokeless coal like anthracite) or wet wood in your home. You can burn only burn kiln-dried logs, dried logs, or smokeless fuels. There is a full list of approved fuels on the Defra website.

• Look for the ‘Ready to Burn’ logo on the fuel packaging. This means the fuel has less than 20% moisture and complies with Defra’s regulations.

• All new log burners must adhere to Ecodesign rules to reduce smoke and pollutant emissions. This Europe-wide programme of new regulations limits what can be burnt in log burning and multifuel stoves and is part of the UK government’s Clean Air Strategy. It is illegal to sell or manufacture a log-burning stove that isn’t EcoDesign Ready.

• Check with the manufacturer if a wood burner adheres to Ecodesign rules.

What are the fines for improper log burner use?

The Energy Saving Trust says: "Local authorities in England have the power to issue fines starting from £175 for people breaking these rules. But the fines can go as high as £300. You could also get a fine of up to £1,000 for using unauthorised fuel in an appliance that’s not on the Defra-exempt list."

They add: "If the situation goes to court, fines could be as high as £5,000 for repeat offenders."