🔥 New Rules for Burning Wood in the UK (2025): What You Need to Know

By Home County Log Co. ♻️ Why the Rules Have Changed

To help reduce air pollution and promote cleaner, more efficient heating the UK government has introduced stricter regulations on wood burning and wood burning stoves with the aim of cutting harmful emissions from domestic stoves and open fires. These changes are part of the broader Environmental Improvement Plan.

🧱 What Are the New Regulations?

✅ Ecodesign Standards (Since 2022)

All new wood-burning and multi-fuel stoves must now meet Ecodesign 2022 standards:

• Minimum 75% efficiency for closed stoves

• Lower emissions of particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides

• Only DEFRA-approved appliances can be sold and installed

  
  

🚫 Smoke Control Areas

If you live in a Smoke Control Area, you must:

• Use a DEFRA-exempt stove

• Burn only authorised fuels (look for the Ready to Burn logo)

• Avoid wet wood and house coal, which are now banned

  
  

💸 Fines and Enforcement

Local authorities now have the power to issue:

• Fixed Penalty Notices 

• Fines up to £1,000 for using unauthorised fuels or non-compliant appliances

  
  

🌲 What This Means for You

Whether you're a homeowner, landlord, or installer, here’s what you should do:

• Upgrade to an Ecodesign-compliant stove if you haven’t already

• Check if your area is a Smoke Control Zone (use DEFRA’s online map)

• Burn smart: only use dry, seasoned wood with less than 20% moisture

  
  

🪵 How Home County Log Co. Can Help

At Home County Log Co., we supply:

• Kiln-dried, Ready to Burn logs that meet DEFRA standards

• Local delivery across the Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire