Smoke

Domestic bonfires

Bonfires can be very irritating to neighbours - the smoke and smell are the subject of many complaints. Smoke prevents your neighbours from enjoying their gardens, opening windows or hanging out washing.

It is important to remember that most gardens and houses are in urban areas, and it is not unreasonable for a neighbour to have an occasional bonfire or barbecue as long as this does not cause a major problem.

If you must have a bonfire, never burn household rubbish, rubber tyres, engine oil, petrol, damp material, anything that contains plastic foam or paint. Avoid burning at weekends, bank holidays and when smoke may be blown into neighbours' gardens. Only burn dry material and don't leave a fire unattended or smouldering (if the smoke is drifting across a road and it is endangering traffic, contact the police).

For more information on how to have a bonfire without causing a nuisance, visit the environmental protection website.

If you wish to report smoke and smell, use our online reporting service.

Industrial and trade premises

It is an offence (subject to exemptions) to cause or permit the emission of dark smoke from industrial or trade premises. Dark smoke from industrial or trade chimneys is not permitted unless a furnace is being lit from cold, there is mechanical failure or suitable fuel is not available.

Industrial or trade premises should also not cause a problem to neighbouring property as under the "Domestic bonfires" section (burning of waste may also not be acceptable as there is a duty of care on anyone who disposes of waste to dispose of it in a manner not likely to cause pollution of the environment - enforced by the Environment Agency).

This page was last updated on 25 October 2010