Wood burner regulations and fines explained

At the moment, there is no ban on wood burners anywhere in the UK.

However, in December 2025 the UK Government published its environmental improvement plan. Part of this plan involves a consultation on cutting emissions from burning in homes in England. What this means for wood burners is unclear, but we’ll update this guide once more information is available.

In Scotland specifically, The Scottish Government has said that wood burning stoves can be installed in new homes. However, gas and oil boilers are still banned as the main heating system in new builds.

The regulations apply if you live in a smoke control area.  

• New wood burners can’t emit more than three grams 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. See the full list of approved fuels on the Defra website.
• Look for the ‘Ready to Burn’ logo on 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. Check with the manufacturer if a wood burner adheres to Ecodesign rules.

England: Most urban areas are in a smoke control area. Defra has a map where you can check if you live in a smoke control area.

Scotland: Check the interactive map from the Spatial Hub website.

Wales: Check the map on DataMapWales.

Northern Ireland: Check the map on the Northern Ireland Air website.

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.

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

Burning biomass like wood – especially wet wood – is a source of pollutants like particulate matter PM2.5. The World Health Organization has identified these particles as being particularly harmful to human health. This is because they’re so small (less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter), and can travel through the bloodstream, lodging in the heart, brain and other organs.

Wet wood also burns less efficiently than seasoned (naturally dried) or kiln-dried wood. This is because because more energy is wasted turning the moisture in the wood into vapour, instead of heating your home.

If you have wet or unseasoned wood, you should dry it out for at least a year before using it – wait until it has less than 20% moisture. You can buy a moisture meter from your local DIY shop for around £25 to measure this and they’re easy to use. They have two metal pins that you press against the wood, and a digital display tells you the moisture content as a percentage.

1. Consider using your wood burner less to reduce the amount of air pollution.  
2. Use dry fuel – the ‘Ready to Burn’ logo helps you find fuel that has less than 20% moisture, which reduces smoke and harmful emissions. Also, never burn anything other than dry, seasoned wood.  
3. Install a flue liner to help reduce the risk of smoke leaking through your chimney structure. It also improves the draw of the chimney, making your wood burner more efficient. 
4. Make sure your stove is serviced annually to keep it working well. 
5. Install a carbon monoxide alarm in the room containing the wood burner, as well as any other rooms containing fuel burning appliances. Ensure that  you can hear the alarms throughout your home. 
6. Ventilate well – If you have a dedicated air vent near the appliance, check this isn’t blocked. If you don’t have an air vent then open a window while using the stove. Check your appliance instructions to make sure you’re ventilating properly. 
7. Keep the wood burner door closed as much as possible. Air in your home can be polluted more when the door is opened to refuel the stove, as well as when clearing up the ash. 

For more tips, visit Burnright.

If you’re thinking about changing your heating system, it’s worth considering cleaner, low carbon alternatives to wood burners.

For example, electric heating can be considered a low carbon heating option as renewable energy sources are powering more and more of the electricity grid.

Another example is heat pumps, which are one of the most efficient heating systems available. This is because for every unit of energy you use to power the system, you get three units back in heat.

Compare this to a modern wood burning stove, where you only get around 0.8 units of heat for every unit of fuel.

If you have solar panels installed in your home, you can help power the heat pump using the free energy from the sun.