It became illegal to sell traditional house coal for domestic burning in England from 1 May 2023. The ban, made under the Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020, prevents businesses including Approved Coal Merchants from selling house coal, also known as bituminous coal, for use in homes1. HETAS, the solid fuel certification body, states that the change "made it illegal to sell coal, preventing the use of a highly polluting fuel from 1 May 2023"3.
"All sales of traditional house coal will be banned in England from 1 May 2023."
The ban applies to sales, not to householders burning coal already held. Defra's air quality strategy states that "from 1 May 2023, retailers are banned from selling coal (bagged or loose) for domestic burning"2. One exemption is reported: traditional house coal extracted and sold from the Forest of Dean can continue to be sold locally4.
The coal ban sits alongside earlier fuel rules. Wood sold in volumes under two cubic metres in England must be certified as Ready to Burn, with a moisture content of no more than 20%, a requirement in place since May 20215. Manufactured solid fuels sold for domestic burning must have a sulphur content below 2% and emit less than 5g of smoke per hour2. Stoves bought since 2022 must meet minimum emissions requirements3.
| Fuel or appliance rule | Requirement | In force |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional house coal sales | Banned for domestic burning in England | 1 May 20231 |
| Wet wood sales under 2m³ | Ready to Burn certification, 20% moisture maximum | May 20215 |
| Manufactured solid fuels | Sulphur below 2%, under 5g smoke per hour | Regulations 20202 |
| New stoves | Minimum emissions requirements | Since 20223 |
HETAS states that wood burning is not being banned and that "government has not said they intend to ban domestic burning"3. The Environmental Improvement Plan, published in January 2023, states that the government is not considering a ban on domestic burning in England and recognises that some households rely on solid fuel for heating, hot water and cooking4.
Why it matters for households
For homes that burned house coal, the change removed a fuel that could be bought bagged or loose from coal merchants. Manufactured solid fuels, also called smokeless fuels, are the reported alternative, but HETAS states these should only be burned in multifuel stoves, as wood-burning stoves are not designed for them and their use can cause damage5. Homes in a smoke control area face separate limits: a penalty of up to £300 if a council decides a chimney emits too much smoke, and up to £1,000 for burning unauthorised fuel without an exempt appliance4. The rules on what can be burned, and where, are set out in the UK's energy regulation and policy framework, and the practical effect on a household's choice of fuel is covered in regulation and energy independence. Fines for burning unauthorised fuel in a smoke control area are explained in what is the fine for burning unauthorised fuel in a smoke control area.
What happens next
The Environmental Improvement Plan is due to undergo a rapid review to assess progress and identify where accelerated action is needed3. Defra's strategy sets out further consultation on tougher stove standards in smoke control areas, lowering the smoke limit for newly installed stoves from 5g per hour to at least as low as 3g, and on tougher emission standards for manufactured solid fuels2. HETAS reports that the proposed stove limit would apply to appliances being certified as exempt, not to appliances already installed4. The strategy also states that the Scottish and Welsh governments are preparing their clean air strategies2.
Sources5 cited
- Are you using appropriate fuel for your log burner? - HETAS, hetas.co.uk
- Defra's air quality strategy - HETAS, hetas.co.uk
- Heat your home safely this Clean Air Night - HETAS, hetas.co.uk
- A stove users guide to enforcement - HETAS, hetas.co.uk
- 16 things you should never burn in your wood burner - HETAS, hetas.co.uk