Wood Burning Rule

In July of 2008, the Air District passed Regulation 6, Rule 3: Wood-Burning Devices to reduce fine particulate matter air pollution from wood smoke.

Don't Burn Wood during Winter Spare the Air Alerts

Under this regulation, it is illegal to burn wood, firelogs, or pellets in your fireplace, woodstove, or outdoor firepit on days for which the Air District issues a Winter Spare the Air Alert. The 2008-09 Winter Spare the Air season runs from November 1 through February 28.

In order to check the Winter Spare the Air Alert status, you can:

• Call 1-877-4NO-BURN

• Check the Winter Spare the Air Alert status on the Spare the Air website home page and on www.baaqmd.gov.

• Sign up for e-mail AirAlert notifications.

• Sign up for automatic phone call alerts online or by calling 1-800-430-1515. 

Local radio and TV news media will also carry announcements.

Residents whose dwellings have no natural gas or electrical service, or whose only source of heat is provided by wood burning, are exempt from the Winter Spare the Air Alert wood-burning restriction.

Other Conditions

• Under the new rule, only cleaner burning technology, such as EPA-certified wood stoves, fireplace inserts, pellet stoves, or natural gas devices, can be sold or installed in new construction or remodels in the Bay Area.

• The new rule also places year-round prohibitions on excessive chimney smoke and the burning of garbage, plastics, or other harmful materials in fireplaces and woodstoves. Residents and businesses should burn clean, dry wood in short, hot fires with plenty of air in order to reduce air pollution from smoky and inefficient fires.

• Firewood suppliers are required to appropriately label their wood as “seasoned” or “unseasoned."  Seasoned wood has a low moisture content.

Activities Not Prohibited

The new rule does NOT (a) completely ban fireplaces and wood stoves or completely prohibit wood-burning in the Bay Area, or (b) require the replacement of existing fireplaces or wood stoves when a house is sold.

Click here for more detailed information about how to comply with the new wood burning regulation.