Smoke control areas

rooftops of terraced houses with many chimneys and aerials

Under the Clean Air Act, local authorities may declare the whole or part of the district of the authority to be a smoke control area. It is an offence to emit smoke from a chimney of a building, from a furnace or from any fixed boiler if located in a designated smoke control area. It is also an offence to acquire an unauthorised fuel for use within a smoke control area unless it is used within an exempt appliance (exempted from the controls which generally apply in the smoke control area). The current maximum level of fine is £1,000 for each offence.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has powers under that act to authorise smokeless fuels for exempt appliances for use in smoke control areas in England.

We are responsible for enforcing the legislation in smoke control areas in the borough. For further details please contact us. If you wish to check whether you are living in a smoke control zone, please view the local smoke control zones map. Further guidance on UK smoke control areas can be found on the DEFRA website.