Smoke control areas

Wood burning stoves are a popular way to heat homes, but they can affect both health and the environment.

If you use a wood burning or multi fuel stove, or an open fire, you must follow the law and help prevent air pollution.

What is the law?

Most of Darlington is a Smoke Control Area.

This means:

• You must only burn authorised fuels, such as smokeless fuels like anthracite.
• If you have an exempt appliance, only burn fuels that comply with your appliance’s requirements.
• Action can be taken if smoke is emitted from domestic chimneys in a smoke control area.

Important:

Wood is not an authorised fuel.

If you want to burn wood in a smoke control area:

• Use an exempt appliance (see below for more details).
• Make sure the wood is clean, dry, and ‘Ready to Burn’ [external link].

Do you live in a smoke control area?

To find out:

• Check the Smoke Control Area Map on the Defra website [external link].
• Or contact Environmental Health:
  • Phone: 01325 405111.
  • Email: [email protected].

See our smoke control areas information sheet [pdf document].

Visit The Smoke Control Areas website [external link] for details on authorised fuels and exempt appliances.

Outside smoke control areas

Be mindful of what you burn. Do not burn unsuitable fuels as they can:

• Harm the environment.
• Affect your health.
• Reduce indoor air quality.

Unsuitable fuels include:

• Bituminous coal (traditional house coal) – banned since May 2023.
• Wet or treated wood (such as old fencing or sheds).