Home heating measures in my clean air zone

Home heating can include the burning of solid fuel, such as wood or pellets, and there are rules in the Canterbury Air Regional Plan guiding the installation of these burners.

Clean Air Zones relate to those areas in Canterbury where air pollution is often high. There are different home heating rules and different types of burners allowed for different Clean Air Zones. Find out what Clean Air Zone you are in.

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

The information below covers the main requirements to be aware of, to read the full rules please read the Canterbury Air Regional Plan.

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
  • Installation of low-emission burners is not allowed
  • Use of existing low-emission burners is allowed for up to 20 years from installation
  • Use of open fires or older style burners is not allowed
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
  • Older style burners can be used, but cannot be installed
  • Open fires installed from 2013 onwards cannot be used

An approved secondary emission reduction device may allow you to use a National Environment Standard compliant burner past its usual 15-year limit.

Download the Christchurch Clean Air Zone home heating rules.

Support

The type of burner, the fuel used, and the technique used to light and stoke the fire all make a difference in reducing emissions. Visit Warmer Cheaper for hints and tips on making the most of your burner.

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
  • Use of open fires is not allowed
  • Use of older style burners is not allowed
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
  • Older style burners can be used, but cannot be installed

An approved secondary emission reduction device may allow you to use a National Environment Standard compliant burner past its usual 15-year limit. 

Download the Waimate Clean Air Zone home heating rules.

View the Waimate Clean Air Zone boundaries. 

Support

The type of burner, the fuel used, and the technique used to light and stoke the fire all make a difference in reducing emissions. Visit Warmer Cheaper for hints and tips on making the most of your burner.

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.

  • Use of open fires is not allowed.

  • Use of older style burners is not allowed

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

An approved secondary emission reduction device may allow you to use a National Environment Standard compliant burner past its usual 15-year limit. 

Download the Geraldine Clean Air Zone home heating rules.

View the Geraldine Clean Air Zone boundaries.

Support

The type of burner, the fuel used, and the technique used to light and stoke the fire all make a difference in reducing emissions. Visit Warmer Cheaper for hints and tips on making the most of your burner.

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
  • Installation of low-emission burners is not allowed
  • Use of existing low-emission burners is allowed for up to 15 years from installation
  • Use of open fires is not allowed
  • Use of older style wood burners that are 15 years or older is not allowed

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.
  • Older style burners can be used, but cannot be installed
  • Open fires installed from 2013 onwards cannot be used

An approved secondary emission reduction device may allow you to use a National Environment Standard compliant burner past its usual 15-year limit. 

Download the Timaru Clean Air Zone home heating rules.

Support

The type of burner, the fuel used, and the technique used to light and stoke the fire all make a difference in reducing emissions. Visit Warmer Cheaper for hints and tips on making the most of your burner.

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
  • Installation of low-emission burners is not allowed.
  • Use of existing low-emission burners is allowed for up to 20 years from installation.
  • Use of open fires or older style burners is not allowed.

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.
  • Older style burners can be used, but cannot be installed.
  • Open fires installed from 2013 onwards cannot be used.

An approved secondary emission reduction device may allow you to use a National Environment Standard compliant burner past its usual 15-year limit. 

Download the Ashburton Clean Air Zone home heating rules.

Support

The type of burner, the fuel used, and the technique used to light and stoke the fire all make a difference in reducing emissions. Visit Warmer Cheaper for hints and tips on making the most of your burner.

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
  • Installation of low-emission burners is not allowed
  • Use of existing low-emission burners is allowed for up to 20 years from installation
  • Use of open fires or older style burners is not allowed

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
  • Older style burners can be used, but cannot be installed
  • Open fires installed from 2013 onwards cannot be used

An approved secondary emission reduction device may allow you to use a National Environment Standard compliant burner past its usual 15-year limit. 

Download the Rangiora Clean Air Zone home heating rules.

Support

The type of burner, the fuel used, and the technique used to light and stoke the fire all make a difference in reducing emissions. Visit Warmer Cheaper for hints and tips on making the most of your burner.

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
  • Installation of low-emission burners is not allowed
  • Use of existing low-emission burners is allowed for up to 20 years from installation
  • Use of open fires or older style burners is not allowed

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
  • Older style burners can be used, but cannot be installed
  • Open fires installed from 2013 onwards cannot be used

An approved secondary emission reduction device may allow you to use a National Environment Standard compliant burner past its usual 15-year limit. 

Download the Kaiapoi Clean Air Zone home heating rules.

Support

The type of burner, the fuel used, and the technique used to light and stoke the fire all make a difference in reducing emissions. Visit Warmer Cheaper for hints and tips on making the most of your burner.

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 (specified as 15 minutes at start up and 5 minutes at refuelling)
  • Ultra-low emission burners and low-emission burners are allowed into all homes
  • 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 (specified as 15 minutes at start up and 5 minutes at refuelling)

Support

The type of burner, the fuel used, and the technique used to light and stoke the fire all make a difference in reducing emissions. Visit Warmer Cheaper for hints and tips on making the most of your burner.

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 (specified as 15 minutes at start up and 5 minutes at refuelling)
  • 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). Please contact us to discuss your situation further. Please contact us to discuss your situation further.

Support

The type of burner, the fuel used, and the technique used to light and stoke the fire all make a difference in reducing emissions. Visit Warmer Cheaper for hints and tips on making the most of your burner.