Home heating measures in my clean air zone

There are different home heating measures or types of burners for different Clean Air Zones in Canterbury (areas in Canterbury where air pollution is often high). 

To find out what Clean Air Zone you are in visit Canterbury Maps.

If you are installing a burner within a Clean Air Zone, you must register it on our Solid Fuel Burner Database. 

If you have an existing burner you can find the age of the burner and when it needs replacing here.

What are the home heating rules for my zone?

Christchurch Clean Air Zone
Wood burner-use rules for sites that are less than 2ha in size (generally urban areas):
  • ultra-low emission burners are allowed into all homes, including new homes
  • installation of low-emission burners into new homes is not allowed
  • installation of low emission burners into existing homes where there is no existing low emission burner is not allowed
  • use of existing low-emission burners is allowed for up to 20 years or until 1 January 2019, whichever is later
  • from 1 January 2019 any new burner installed must be an ultra-low emission burner
  • use of open fires or older style burners is not allowed
  • older style wood burners (that do not meet a 1 gram emission standard and are not on the Environment Canterbury authorised list) can only be replaced with a low emission wood burner if a building consent was lodged with Christchurch City Council by 31 October 2017. An ultra-low emission burner can be installed at any time.
  • all burners must be registered with Environment Canterbury and all maintenance records must be kept.
Wood burner-use rules for sites that are greater than 2ha in size (generally rural areas):
  • ultra-low emission burners and low-emission burners are allowed into all homes, including new homes
  • older style burners can be used, but cannot be installed
  • open fires installed from 2013 onwards cannot be used.

Download the Christchurch Clean Air Zone home heating rules.

Waimate Clean Air Zone
Wood burner-use rules for sites that are less than 2ha in size (generally urban areas):
  • ultra-low emission burners and low-emission burners are allowed into all homes, including new homes.  This includes new situations in existing homes and new homes.  There does not need to be an existing burner.
  • use of open fires is not allowed
  • older style wood burners (that do not meet a 1 gram emission standard) need to be upgraded by 1 January 2020, or if a property is sold before this date
  • all burners must be registered with Environment Canterbury and all maintenance records must be kept.
Wood burner-use rules for sites that are greater than 2ha in size (generally rural areas):
  • ultra-low emission burners and low emission burners are allowed into all homes, including new homes
  • older style burners can be used, but cannot be installed

Download the Waimate Clean Air Zone home heating rules.

Geraldine Clean Air Zone
Wood burner-use rules for sites that are less than 2ha in size (generally urban areas):
  • ultra-low emission burners and low-emission burners are allowed into all homes, including new homes.  This includes new situations in existing homes and new homes.  There does not need to be an existing burner
  • use of open fires is not allowed
  • older style wood burners (that do not meet a 1 gram emission standard) need to be upgraded by 1 January 2020, or if a property is sold before this date
  • all burners must be registered with Environment Canterbury and all maintenance records must be kept
Wood burner-use rules for sites that are greater than 2ha in size (generally rural areas):
  • ultra-low emission burners and low emission burners are allowed into all homes, including new homes
  • older style burner can be used, but cannot be installed

Download the Geraldine Clean Air Zone home heating rules.

Timaru Clean Air Zone
Wood burner-use rules for sites that are less than 2ha in size (generally urban areas):
  • ultra-low emission burners are allowed into all homes including new homes
  • installation of low-emission burners into new homes is not allowed
  • Installation of low emission burners into existing homes is only allowed if replacing an existing lawfully operable burner (i.e. one that is lawful under any rule or plan, for example, it was consented at the time of installation, it has not yet reached 15 years of age and it has not been removed).
  • use of existing low-emission burners is allowed for up to 15 years or until 1 January 2019, whichever is later
  • from 1 January 2019 any new burner installed must be an ultra-low emission burner
  • use of open fires is not allowed
  • use of older style wood burners (that do not meet a 1 gram emission standard) that are 15 years or older is not allowed*
  • older-style wood burners (that do not meet a 1 gram emission standard) that are 15 years or older can be replaced with a low emission wood burner provided that a building consent was lodged with Timaru District Council by 31 October 2017. An ultra-low emission burner can be installed at any time.
  • all burners must be registered with Environment Canterbury and all maintenance records must be kept.

*If you have lodged a building consent to replace your expired burner, we will accommodate delays outside your control (such as waiting on an installer, retailer or waiting on building consent approval).  If you have not yet lodged your building consent, read more about temporary waivers.

Wood burner-use rules for sites that are greater than 2ha in size (generally rural areas):

  • ultra-low emission burners and low emission burners are allowed into all homes, including new homes
  • older style burners can be used, but cannot be installed
  • open fires installed from 2013 onwards cannot be used

Download the Timaru Clean Air Zone home heating rules.

Ashburton Clean Air Zone
Wood burner-use rules for sites that are less than 2ha in size (generally urban areas):
  • ultra-low emission burners are allowed into all homes including new homes
  • installation of low-emission burners into new homes is not allowed
  • Installation of low emission burners into existing homes is only allowed if replacing an existing lawfully operable burner (i.e. one that is lawful under any rule or plan, for example, it was consented at the time of installation, it has not been removed, and it has not yet reached 15 years of age if an older-style burner or 20 years of age if a low emission burner).
  • use of existing low-emission burners is allowed for up to 20 years or until 1 January 2019, whichever is later
  • from 1 January 2019 any new burner installed must be an ultra-low emission burner
  • use of open fires or older-style burners (older than 15 years) is not allowed
  • older style wood burners (that do not meet a 1 gram emission standard and are not on the Environment Canterbury authorised list) that are 15 years or older can be replaced with a low emission wood burner provided that a building consent is issued by Ashburton District Council before 31 October 2017
  • after 31 October 2017, older style burners can be replaced with a low emission burner provided they are being replaced before they reach 15 years of age
  • all burners must be registered with Environment Canterbury and all maintenance records must be kept.
Wood burner-use rules for sites that are greater than 2ha in size (generally rural areas):
  • ultra-low emission burners and low emission burners are allowed into all homes, including new homes
  • older style burners can be used, but cannot be installed
  • open fires installed from 2013 onwards cannot be used
Download the Ashburton Clean Air Zone home heating rules.
Rangiora Clean Air Zone
Wood burner-use rules for sites that are less than 2ha in size (generally urban areas):
  • ultra-low emission burners are allowed into all homes including new homes
  • installation of low-emission burners into new homes is not allowed
  • Installation of low emission burners into existing homes is only allowed if replacing an existing lawfully operable burner (i.e. one that is lawful under any rule or plan, for example, it was consented at the time of installation, it has not been removed, and it has not yet reached 15 years of age if an older-style burner or 20 years of age if a low emission burner).
  • use of existing low-emission burners is allowed for up to 20 years or until 1 January 2019, whichever is later
  • from 1 January 2019, any new burner installed must be an ultra-low emission burner
  • use of open fires or older-style burners (older than 15 years) is not allowed
  • All older style wood burners (that do not meet a 1 gram emission standard and are not on the Environment Canterbury authorised list) that are 15 years or older can be replaced with a low emission wood burner provided that a building consent is issued by Waimakariri District Council before 31 October 2017
  • After 31 October 2017, older style burners can be replaced with a low emission burner provided they are being replaced before they reach 15 years of age
  • all burners must be registered with Environment Canterbury and all maintenance records must be kept.
Wood burner-use rules for sites that are greater than 2ha in size (usually rural areas):
  • ultra-low emission burners and low-emission burners are allowed into all homes, including new homes
  • older style burners can be used, but cannot be installed
  • open fires installed from 2013 onwards cannot be used.

Download the Rangiora Clean Air Zone home heating rules.

Kaiapoi Clean Air Zone
Wood burner-use rules for sites that are less than 2ha in size (generally urban areas):
  • ultra-low emission burners are allowed into all homes including new homes
  • installation of low-emission burners into new homes is not allowed
  • Installation of low emission burners into existing homes is only allowed if replacing an existing lawfully operable burner (i.e. one that is lawful under any rule or plan, for example, it was consented at the time of installation, it has not been removed, and it has not yet reached 15 years of age if an older-style burner or 20 years of age if a low emission burner).
  • use of existing low-emission burners is allowed for up to 20 years or until 1 January 2019, whichever is later
  • from 1 January 2019 any new burner installed must be an ultra-low emission burner
  • use of open fires or older-style burners (older than 15 years) is not allowed
  • All older style wood burners (that do not meet a 1 gram emission standard and are not on the Environment Canterbury authorised list) that are 15 years or older can be replaced with a low emission wood burner provided that a building consent is issued by Waimakariri District Council before 31 October 2017
  • After 31 October 2017, older style burners can be replaced with a low emission burner provided they are being replaced before they reach 15 years of age
  • all burners must be registered with Environment Canterbury and all maintenance records must be kept.
Wood burner-use rules for sites that are greater than 2ha in size (generally rural areas):
  • ultra-low emission burners and low-emission burners are allowed into all homes, including new homes
  • older style burners can be used, but cannot be installed
  • open fires installed from 2013 onwards cannot be used

Download the Kaiapoi Clean Air Zone home heating rules.

Region wide (outside of a Clean Air Zone)
Wood burner-use rules for sites that are less than 2ha in size (generally urban areas):
  • use dry, seasoned wood only
  • no visible smoke, except for brief periods
  • ultra-low emission burners and low-emission burners are allowed into all homes, including new homes.  This includes new situations in existing homes and new homes.  There does not need to be an existing burner
  • older style burners can be used, but cannot be installed
  • no burning of toxic substances/materials.
Wood burner-use rules for sites that are greater than 2ha in size (generally rural areas):
  • no burning of toxic substances/materials
  • best practice to use dry and seasoned wood
  • best practice to have no visible smoke, except for brief periods
Region wide (inside a Clean Air Zone)
Wood burner-use rules for sites that are less than 2ha in size (generally urban areas):
  • use dry, seasoned wood only
  • no visible smoke, except for brief periods
  • no burning of toxic substances/materials.

Heritage buildings

There are exceptions for listed heritage buildings where the heating appliances and chimney were original features (including restored original features).