Industrial and commercial odours

Odours arising from industrial or commercial premises should be reported to the environmental protection unit.  Examples of the type of odours we can investigate include:

• Muck or slurry spreading activities where best practice guides issued by DEFRA are not being followed
• Cooking odours from restaurants and take-away food premises
• Odours arising from products or processes used on industrial or commercial premises. Also see industrial air pollution.

Please note that parts of York are rural in nature and that some agricultural related odours can be expected to arise across the city from time to time.  We can only investigate agricultural related odours where they are considered particularly offensive, prolonged in nature and/or where best practice guidelines for dealing with muck and slurry are clearly not being adhered to.

Domestic odours

Odours arising in domestic properties fall under the remit of a number of different council departments.

Odours which relate specifically to fumes or gases, for example fumes from faulty heating appliances should be reported in the first instance to the environmental protection unit.  Problems with bonfires and smoky chimneys should also be reported to the environmental protection unit.

Odours arising from deposits and accumulations, including rubbish and blocked drains should be first reported to your local street environment officer. 

Odours arising from animals or animal waste should be reported to the animal health unit.

Natural gas odours should be reported to Transco on 0800 111999.