Log burner rules and smoke control in Devon
Which bits of Devon are smoke control areas, what you can burn, the stove and firewood rules, and carbon monoxide alarms.
Smoke control areas in Devon
Inside a smoke control area you must not let smoke out of the chimney, and may only burn authorised fuel unless the stove is an exempt appliance.
What we found, checked 15 October 2026
| Council | Smoke control areas? |
|---|---|
| Exeter City Council | Yes, parts of the city. The council publishes the zones and a postcode map. Defra's data also shows Exeter. |
| Plymouth City Council | No. The council states Plymouth has no designated smoke control areas. |
| Torbay, Teignbridge, East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, Torridge, West Devon, South Hams | None on Defra's map data, and none published by the councils that we could find. |
Sources: Exeter City Council, smoke control areas; Plymouth City Council, smoke and fire; Defra UK-AIR, smoke control areas.
Inside a smoke control area
- Burn wood only in a Defra-exempt appliance, and only the fuels its maker allows. Stoves are listed on Defra's exempt list.
- Or burn an authorised smokeless fuel from Defra's list.
- GOV.UK says smoke from a chimney in a smoke control area in England can bring a penalty of up to £300, and buying unauthorised fuel for a non-exempt appliance a fine of up to £1,000.
Outside the zones, smoke can still be a problem. Plymouth City Council says its Environmental Health team can investigate wood burner smoke as a possible statutory nuisance.
Sources: GOV.UK, smoke control area rules; Defra, exempt appliances; Defra, authorised fuels; Plymouth City Council, smoke and fire.
Ecodesign stoves
Solid fuel stoves sold from 1 January 2022 must meet Ecodesign requirements: emission limits and a minimum efficiency. The rules apply to stoves placed on the market from that date; Which? notes stoves bought before January 2022 aren't covered, and HETAS suggests owners of older stoves think about upgrading.
Defra has consulted on tighter rules for new stoves. As of April 2026, Which? reported that no decision had been taken on any ban and that the proposals concerned new stoves, not ones already fitted.
Sources: legislation.gov.uk, Ecodesign Regulation 2015/1185; HETAS, 6 log burner rules; Which?, fines and regulations (14 April 2026).
Firewood and the end of house coal
- Since 1 May 2021, wood sold in England in quantities under 2 cubic metres must be certified Ready to Burn: 20% moisture or less. Small producers had until 1 May 2022.
- Loads of 2 cubic metres or more don't need the certificate, but the seller must give you a notice on drying and storing it.
- Sales of traditional house coal for home burning ended on 1 May 2023.
- Wet wood smokes. Plymouth City Council says damp or unseasoned wood will smoke excessively.
Sources: GOV.UK, selling wood for domestic use; GOV.UK, restrictions on coal and wet wood; Plymouth City Council, smoke and fire.
Carbon monoxide alarms
Approved Document J says that when a new or replacement fixed solid fuel appliance goes into a home, a CO alarm should be fitted in the same room. It should:
- meet BS EN 50291-1:2018, powered by a battery that lasts the alarm's life with a warning when that is ending, or be a hard-wired mains Type A alarm with a sensor-failure warning;
- sit on the ceiling at least 300 mm from any wall, or high on a wall above doors and windows but not within 150 mm of the ceiling;
- be between 1 and 3 metres horizontally from the stove.
Landlords: in rented homes in England a CO alarm is required in any room used as living accommodation with a fixed combustion appliance such as a log burner (gas cookers excepted).
Sources: Approved Document J, 2022 edition (GOV.UK); GOV.UK, smoke and CO alarm regulations for landlords.
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