What you can burn in a smoke control area.

In a smoke control area in England, you mustn't let smoke out of your chimney, and you can only burn authorised fuels unless your stove or appliance is on Defra's list of exempt appliances. That means wood, including our kiln-dried logs, can only be burned on a Defra exempt appliance. To find out whether you live in a smoke control area, check your council's map or ask your council.

What a smoke control area is.

Many parts of the UK are smoke control areas. GOV.UK's page on smoke control area rules says that in one, you can't release smoke from a chimney, and you can only burn authorised fuel unless you use an appliance approved by Defra, known as an exempt appliance or Defra approved appliance.

The rules on this page are for England. Defra publishes separate lists of fuels and appliances for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Are you in one? Check your council's map.

Smoke control areas are local, so the place to check is your council. Look on its website for a smoke control area map or list, or contact it: GOV.UK says the environmental services department will be able to help. You can find your local council on GOV.UK.

Defra's smoke control areas page also links to a national map for England. It's a useful first look, but Defra says the data is indicative only and you should always contact your council to confirm.

If your stove is Defra exempt.

GOV.UK says unauthorised fuels, such as wood, can only be burned in exempt appliances, which include some boilers, cookers and stoves. Defra's list of exempt appliances for England gives each model's permitted fuels. Entries for wood burners list fuels such as wood logs, and some specify a maximum moisture content of 20% (here's how to tell if logs are dry).

The exemption only covers the fuels listed for that model, burned as the instruction and installation manuals say. Defra's list also says the wood must not have been treated with preservatives or coatings. To check your stove, find its make and model in the manual or paperwork and search the list.

Don't assume a modern stove is exempt. Defra's practical guide says you can only burn unauthorised fuels in an Ecodesign stove if it also appears on the list of exempt appliances.

If your stove or fire isn't exempt.

You can only burn authorised fuels. GOV.UK lists anthracite, semi-anthracite, gas and low volatile steam coal as smokeless fuels you can use, along with anything on Defra's list of authorised fuels for England. The list names fuels by brand and manufacturer, so check the name on the bag against it.

An authorised fuel still has to suit your appliance. GOV.UK says you must only use the types of fuel the manufacturer says the appliance can burn, so check your manual before you buy.

The smokeless coal we sell is Excel. Excel briquettes are on Defra's authorised fuels list for England (Oxbow Excel Briquettes, MSF0154).

Outdoors: pizza ovens, chimineas and barbecues.

GOV.UK says you can use outdoor barbecues, chimineas, fireplaces and pizza ovens in smoke control areas. The exception is an appliance that uses a chimney on the roof of a building, such as a summerhouse: that can only burn authorised fuel unless it's an exempt appliance.

Garden bonfires are allowed too, but you need to follow the rules on bonfires. Defra asks everyone burning outdoors to be considerate towards neighbours and take care not to cause a smoke nuisance.

Rules that apply everywhere in England.

• Ready to Burn wood. Since 1 May 2021 (GOV.UK), wood sold in volumes under 2 cubic metres must be certified Ready to Burn, meaning a moisture content of 20% or less (GOV.UK). These fuel rules apply across all of England, including smoke control areas.
• No house coal. It is illegal to sell traditional house coal for use in homes in England (GOV.UK).
• No treated waste wood or rubbish. Defra says treated waste wood (old furniture, pallets or fence panels) and household rubbish can give off harmful fumes and toxic pollutants, such as arsenic, when burned.

Ready to Burn is about moisture, not smoke control (our guide to kiln-dried vs seasoned logs explains the label). A Ready to Burn log still needs an exempt appliance in a smoke control area. GOV.UK requires log sellers to tell customers this, so here it is plainly: if you live in a smoke control area, our logs and kindling can only be burned on a Defra exempt appliance.

Penalties

GOV.UK says that in England you may have to pay a penalty of up to £300 if your chimney releases smoke in a smoke control area. Defra's smoke control guide puts the range at £175 to £300. You can be fined up to £1,000 if you buy unauthorised fuel to use in an appliance that isn't exempt.

Could the rules change?

From January to March 2026, Defra consulted on proposals for new stove emission limits, labelling of stoves and fuels, and higher penalties for not complying with the existing rules (GOV.UK, Defra). When we checked on 19 October 2026, the consultation page showed no outcome yet. We'll update this guide if the rules change.

Questions people ask.

What we'd suggest.

If your stove is Defra exempt for wood logs, our kiln-dried logs are certified Ready to Burn at 20% moisture or less, and our kindling is certified too. If your appliance isn't exempt and its manual allows smokeless fuel, our Excel smokeless coal is on Defra's authorised list. For an outdoor pizza oven, our extra small logs fit well. Before you light the stove, it's worth reading how to light a wood burner so it burns cleanly. Delivery is free on orders of £80 or more, Monday to Friday: see how delivery works. And if you're unsure how the rules apply to your home, check with your council.

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