The wood burner rules you need to know this winter to avoid £300 fine

Wood burners offer a touch of snug at home, but households that use them ‘unlawfully’ could be breaching new health regulations.

As a result of the potentially hazardous emissions from some solid fuel appliances like and multi-fuel stoves, new regulations were implemented last month.

These new rules mean that anyone who uses a log burner could now face of up to £300 if they don’t follow the rules.

Since 2022, changes to the law have dictated which log burners you can buy and what you’re allowed to burn.

But some of the changes have only come into force recently leaving some log burner owners feeling confused and concerned that their log burner may be illegal.

The experts at the have confirmed that even though restrictions are being tightened, there are no current plans to completely outlaw wood burners anywhere in the UK.

They explain that the UK government’s says: “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.”

However, individuals could be hit with fines of £300 if they fail to adhere to the rules. Over one and a half million Brits have wood-burning stoves in their homes, and the majority of households in England are now situated within Smoke Control Areas, also known as ‘smokeless zones, reports

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

Anyone who owns a log burner or is considering installing one can 

What are the wood burner regulations?

The rules and regulations have been tightened over time to protect both homeowners and the environment. The Energy Saving Trust states that these must be followed 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 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 .

• 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 penalties for improper log burner use?

The Energy Saving Trust warns: “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 further caution: “If the situation goes to court, fines could be as high as £5,000 for repeat offenders.”