Wood burning stoves: fines and regulations

Wood burning stoves are becoming increasingly popular, which has led to growing concern about their health and environmental impacts. 

There is no clear consensus about the impact of pollutants released by wood burning stoves, though many studies have looked into their effects on both human health and the environment.

This concern has led to increasingly strict wood burning stove regulations, as well as increasing fines for their improper usage. 

To find out more about the health and environmental impact of stoves, see our guide to wood burning stove pollution

Are wood burning stoves going to be banned?

In January 2026, Emma Hardy, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), said that no 'final decision' had been made on a wood-burning stove ban. 

DEFRA recently launched a public consultation on a series of proposals designed to reduce emissions from domestic burning. These proposals include: 

• Stricter emission limits on new stoves 
• Mandatory labelling (including about health impacts) on new stoves 
• Increased enforcement penalties for fuel suppliers

A total ban on wood burners was not part of these proposals. 

The proposed restrictions on emissions and stricter labelling only apply to new stoves - they won't impact you if you already own and use a wood burner. 

The government recently confirmed that it will continue to allow wood burners to be added to new build homes as a secondary heat source. 

The Scottish government has temporarily dropped restrictions on installing wood-burning stoves, following concerns around how the change would affect users in rural areas. 

Regulations for existing owners 

Although the government is considering tightening restrictions on new stove installations, there are already regulations around stove usage that apply to existing stove owners. 

These mainly relate to the types of fuel you are allowed to burn. 

Smoke control areas and DEFRA-exempt stoves

The UK Government has designated some parts of the UK as 'smoke control areas'. 

In these areas you are not allowed to release smoke from a chimney, which means you cannot burn wood in normal stoves. You must either: 

• Use a DEFRA-exempt stove
• Burn smokeless fuel, such as anthracite coal

DEFRA-exempt stoves are built to stop wood from smoldering, which reduces the amount of smoke released by the stove. You are only allowed to burn wood in a smoke control area if you have a DEFRA-exempt stove.

If you don't have a DEFRA-exempt stove, you must burn a smokeless fuel. 

Smoke control areas are in place across most towns and cities in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, so check with your local authority to see if there are any restrictions in place.

You can see more about the government's smoke control rules at GOV.UK.

Fuel types

In England, as of the summer of 2023, it is illegal to burn coal (excluding smokeless coal) or wet wood in your home.

Wet wood produces more smoke and causes tar to build up in your chimney, which can cause fires. 

Scotland and Wales, which have devolved powers on environmental matters, are still considering this ban. In these countries, you can't burn coal or wet wood in smoke control areas. 

Carbon monoxide alarms

It is a legal requirement to have a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a wood-burning stove. 

Burning wood can produce carbon monoxide gas, which is poisonous. This gas is tasteless, odourless and colourless, so you may not release if you are exposed, which is why having an alarm is so important. 

Wood burning stove fines 

You can be fined for using a wood burning stove if you do not follow the proper legislation.

Councils can issue on-the-spot civil penalties starting at £175 (up to £300) if your chimney is emitting too much smoke in a smoke control area.

If you are found to be burning the wrong fuel in a non-regulation appliance, you can be fined up to £1,000. 

Repeatedly breaking this legislation can result in a criminal conviction. 

Looking to add to your home heating? See our guides on gas stoves, electric stoves, or underfloor heating

Regulations for new stoves

If you are considering a new stove, you must buy a model that is Ecodesign compliant. 

Ecodesign requirements set criteria around a stove’s emissions and efficiency.

In order to be compliant, the stove must not emit more than a specified amount of pollutants. These pollutants include particulate matter (PM), organic gaseous compounds (OGC), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).

The stove must also reach a certain level of efficiency. A more efficient stove can product more heat using less fuel.

You can check whether your stove is ecodesign compliant by checking your brochure or contacting your retailer.  

All stoves placed on the market after January 2022 must be Ecodesign compliant. If you bought your stove before this time, or your stove was placed on the market before January 2022, this legislation does not apply to you.

Other certification initiatives

If you have been browsing different stove brands, you may have seen them advertise certifications from different initiatives.

You do not need to purchase a stove with any of the following certifications. However, if you want to ensure that you are making the most sustainable or the healthiest choice, they are helpful to consider:

• HETAS Cleaner Choice Approval Scheme: As well as being DEFRA-exempt and listed on the DEFRA-website, these stoves emit at least 50% less particulates than required for DEFRA-exemption.
• Clearskies: There are 5 levels to the Clearskies certification scheme. Level 3 stoves are DEFRA-exempt and ecodesign compliant. Level 4 stoves release 15% less pollutants than required to be ecodesign compliant, and level 5 stoves release 15% less than level 4.
• Nordic Ecolabel or Nordic Swan: Stove brands from Nordic countries may also show this certification, which sets out rigorous emission and efficiency targets for both stove production and usage.