Smoke Control areas

Under the Clean Air Act, certain areas of York have been designated 'Smoke Control' areas.

Rules in Smoke Control areas

Smoke control areas are areas where it is illegal to emit smoke from a:

• chimney of a building, or
• chimney which serves the furnace of any fixed boiler or industrial plant

Within these areas:

• you're committing an offence if you allow smoke emissions from a chimney
• if you are burning an unauthorised fuel (such as wood) an appropriate Defra approved appliance must be used (also known as an ‘exempt appliance’)
• if using other appliances (for example, not Defra approved) you can only burn fuel on the list of authorised fuels, or ‘smokeless’ fuels such as anthracite, semi-anthracite, gas or low volatile steam coal. Open fires are not Defra approved
• it's illegal to buy or sell unauthorised fuels such as wood for use in a smoke control area, unless it is bought for use in a Defra approved appliance

Please note: the restrictions within Smoke Control areas do not apply to bonfires.

New rules from November 2026

From 1 November 2026 the whole of City of York Council’s area will become a Smoke Control Area, to help improve local air quality and health. Under the new rules, it will become illegal to emit prolonged smoke from a chimney anywhere in York. 

From November 2026, all residents must burn authorised ‘smokeless’ fuel or use a DEFRA approved appliance if they wish to continue to burn dry, seasoned wood. Using wet wood or unapproved fuels (like treated waste wood) creates excessive smoke, which will be prohibited across York. 

If you currently live outside the Smoke Control Area, you must follow the new rules from November 2026:

If you have an Open Fireplace

• You must switch to using authorised smokeless fuel
• You must not burn any wood on an open fire, although a small amount of dry wood kindling can be used to light the fire.

If you have a DEFRA-Approved Stove

• You can continue as normal using seasoned, dry wood. Retail packaged firewood should be labelled as ‘Ready to Burn’.
• If you use authorised smokeless fuels already in your stove, you can continue to use them

If you have a Non-DEFRA Stove

• Multi-fuel stoves (those with ash pans/grates): switch to authorised smokeless fuel only
• Wood only burning stoves (no ash pan/grate): will need replacing if a conversion kit isn’t available (check with manufacturer)

How to check your if your stove is DEFRA approved

• Check on the appliance itself – look for a metal plate or sticker on the stove. Common markings include ‘DEFRA approved’ or ‘Smoke Control Exempt’. The plate may include a DEFRA exemption number.
• Check the manufacturer’s documentation – look in the user guide or original sales paperwork. You can also contact the manufacturer with photos of your stove so they can confirm DEFRA approval status.
• DEFRA online database - You can check if your stove is approved by searching the manufacturer name and model number on the DEFRA website.

Supply and distribution of wood and manufactured solid fuels

The Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020 have been made under the Environment Act 1995 and place controls on sale of solid fuels (mineral fuels and wood fuels) for domestic use in England. Local Authorities are responsible for enforcement of the regulations which came into effect from 1 May 2021.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has updated its guidance on the sale of wood, coal and manufactured solid fuels for domestic use in England:

• what you need to do to supply, distribute and sell wood for use in domestic heating appliances in England from 1 May 2021
• what you need to do to supply, distribute and sell manufactured solid fuels for use in domestic heating appliances in England from 1 May 2021

Also see

• Authorised fuels and exempted fireplaces
• Air pollution