Wood Burning

Under the Clean Air Act 1993, Croydon declared the majority of the borough as a smoke control area. 

Smoke Control Areas

If you live in a smoke control area:

• it is an offence to emit smoke from a domestic chimney
• it is an offence for any person or company to obtain or deliver unauthorised fuels to a building, unless an exempt appliance is in use. Ordinary wood and bituminous coal are not authorised fuels
• smoke control areas only restrict smoke from domestic chimneys and do not cover garden bonfires or bonfires on building and construction sites. For further information on bonfires see 'Are bonfires necessary'.

Under the Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020 it is an offence to sell certain solid fuels. All suppliers of authorised domestic solid fuel are required to be certified under the Ready to Burn scheme. 

These regulations which became effective from 1st May 2021 for the majority of suppliers, banned the use of polluting wet wood and house coal.

For more information on the location of smoke control areas, authorised fuels and a list of exempt appliance, Visit Smoke control areas: the rules on GOV.UK.

To find out if you are in a smoke control area please contact the Pollution Team.