Under the Clean Air Act, we may declare the whole or part of the borough to be a smoke control area.
It's an offence to emit smoke from a chimney of a building, from a furnace or any fixed boiler if located in a designated smoke control area.
Locations
The majority of the occupied properties in the borough are within the smoke control area.
The only settlements of more than 2 dwellings that are excluded are at Red Lumb and Lanehead in Rochdale. The only other areas that aren't covered are the open moorlands around Littleborough and Milnrow.
The borough is covered by a total of 60 orders brought in between 1954 and 1989. The orders refer to the burning of fuel in 'grates' or fireplaces.
Fuels you can burn
The laws require that either an authorised smokeless fuel is burnt or an exempt appliance is used.
- Unauthorised fuels, such as wood, can only be burned in exempt appliances such as some boilers, cookers and stoves. You must only use the types of fuel that the manufacturer says can be used in the appliance. View a list of exempt appliances on GOV.UK
- From 1 May 2021, you can only burn wood logs if they have a moisture content below 20 per cent. Look out for the 'Ready to Burn' logo on any logs you buy. More information about the Ready to Burn law
- It's an offence to emit smoke from any fireplace in a smoke control area and you can be fined. View the fines and rules about smoke control areas on GOV.UK
- We look into complaints about smoke that could be an offence covered by the Environmental Protection Act 1990, known as a ‘statutory nuisance’. How we deal with a statutory nuisance on GOV.UK
- Find ways to take climate action and learn to burn better
Reporting problems
You can tell us about problems with bonfires, smoke or air pollution.