Smoke control area guidance for homes and businesses: FAQs

Smoke control areas are areas in which certain rules apply to reduce air pollution from burning solid fuels such as coal and wood. The relevant pieces of legislation are the Clean Air Act 1993 and the Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Act 2024 (‘the legislation’).

A smoke control area is an area where people and businesses must not:

• emit smoke from a chimney of a building. This includes outdoor buildings that have a chimney, such as summerhouses
• buy or sell unauthorised fuel for use within a smoke control area, unless it's used in an 'exempt' appliance (appliances which are approved for use in smoke control areas)

Smoke control area rules are in place in certain parts of the country to reduce air pollution from burning solid fuels. Air pollution is one of the biggest environmental risks to public health. Burning solid fuels is a major contributor to a type of pollutant called fine particulate matter, which is present in smoke. These tiny particles can damage your lungs and other organs, and harm the health of you, your family and the wider community.

All properties that emit smoke from a chimney of a building, or a chimney which serves the furnace of any fixed boiler or industrial plant, and lie within a smoke control area are subject to the legislation. This includes residential properties.

Currently there are smoke control areas in four local authorities in Wales. These are Flintshire, Newport, Swansea and Wrexham. To check whether your property is within a smoke control area, please visit Wales Smoke Control Areas Map | DataMapWales

Even if you do not live in a smoke control area, you should always consider less polluting ways of heating your home to help the environment and the health of you and your neighbours. 

Local authorities can create new smoke control areas at any time, following engagement with citizens and stakeholders. If you think there is a problem with smoke pollution in your area, you can encourage your local authority to create a smoke control area to tackle the problem. 

There is no requirement to change your fireplace or stove, so you can comply with the legislation without needing an expensive upgrade. However, there are limitations on what types of solid fuels you can use in older appliances. For example, you are not allowed to burn wood in an open fireplace or an older stove if you live in a smoke control area. See more below.

We encourage you to look for other, less polluting ways of heating your home, but if solid fuel is your only option, look for the Ecodesign standard which ensures the appliance meets strict standards for emissions and efficiency. 

If solid fuel is your only option, consider switching to a less polluting fuel and follow best practice examples of burning more efficiently such as Burn Better - HETAS. 

You should also ensure that your appliance is installed correctly, operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, and properly maintained. We advise that your chimney is maintained by a certified professional chimney sweep each year. 

You can burn the following fuels in a smoke control area: 

• smokeless’ fuels: anthracite, semi-anthracite, gas and low volatile steam coal
• authorised/certified manufactured solid fuels, which you can find on at: Authorised/Certified Fuels – Clean Air Act Data Entry System
• dry wood, but only if you use an appropriate exempt appliance. You cannot burn wood in an open fireplace in a smoke control area. You can check if your appliance is exempt by searching at: Exempt Appliances – Clean Air Act Data Entry Systems You must only use the types of fuel that the manufacturer says can be used in the appliance

If you buy or receive controlled (unauthorised) solid fuels for burning within a smoke control area, and do not have an exempt appliance in which to burn them, you will be breaking the law and could face a fine up to £1,000.

If you do not use the right fuel and/or appliance, resulting in smoke emissions from your chimney, you may receive a fine of up to £300 for each offence. Further information on smoke control area rules can be found here Smoke control area guidance for local authorities: civil sanctions factsheet . You can first be issued with an Improvement Notice, explaining the rules and offering advice on the impacts of pollution from solid fuel burning and how to minimise your emissions. If the smoke emissions persist, you can be issued with a Notice of Intent. You would then have 28 days in which to offer reasonable grounds for objection and if this is not accepted, you can be issued with a Final Notice.