Report a smoke or bonfire nuisance

There are no laws banning bonfires or restricting when someone can have a bonfire.

Bonfires are only illegal if they cause a nuisance to others. If the smoke is excessive and could harm people’s health, we may be able to investigate and take formal action.

If a fire is causing immediate danger, please call 999 and ask for the fire service.

When you can report a smoke or bonfire nuisance

Smoke can be a statutory nuisance if it:

• happens regularly
• lasts a long time
• significantly affects your home or wellbeing

You can learn more about statutory nuisance laws for smoke on Gov.uk

Smoke from correctly installed and maintained domestic stoves such as log burners are highly unlikely to be considered a statutory nuisance.

Try speaking to your neighbours or the people involved

Before you report an issue to us, we recommend trying to speak to the person responsible if you feel safe doing so. They might not realise they're causing a problem. A friendly chat can help keep things positive between neighbours without the need for formal action.

What happens after you report a smoke or bonfire nuisance

Once we receive your complaint, we’ll open a case and contact you within 3 working days. We don’t visit the site straight away.

One of our team will contact you and ask you to keep a record of:

• when the smoke happens (date and time)
• how long it lasts
• how often it happens
• the impact on you and your home

This log is important. When you send the log sheet back to us, we’ll look at the information and let you know what to do next and what choices you have.

We will also write to the individuals involved to let them know a complaint has been received.

Report a smoke or bonfire nuisance

To complain about a bonfire or smoke nuisance, you need to:

• be willing to share your name and contact details with us
• know the exact location and address where the smoke is coming from

Start now

If you have already reported a smoke nuisance

If you have a question or need to speak to us about an existing complaint, please contact your case officer directly.

You can find their contact details on the letters or emails you received from us.

Bonfire advice

Alternatives to having a bonfire

There are other ways to dispose of your garden refuse without having to burn it, such as: 

• composting 
• garden waste collection 
• taking your refuse to a household recycling centre

Things to consider

If you have considered the alternatives and a bonfire is still the best practical option for disposing of your garden waste, you should ensure you have taken the following precautions:

• warn your neighbours - bonfires can cause nuisance to your neighbours especially if it is a nice sunny day with washing out and windows open 
• only burn dry material
• never burn household rubbish, tyres or anything containing plastic, foam or paint
• never use old engine oil, meths or petrol to light or encourage the fire 
• avoid lighting a fire in unsuitable weather conditions - smoke hangs in the air on damp days and in the evening
• avoid burning at weekends and on bank holidays when people want to enjoy their gardens 
• never leave a fire unattended or leave it to smoulder 

The law on bonfires

Bonfires are only illegal if they cause a nuisance to others and the person responsible fails to comply with the requirements of any abatement notice served by the council. It is commonly thought that there are byelaws banning bonfires or restricting the days or times when they are allowed - this is not the case.

Burning waste from another site

It is an offence to bring waste from another site and burn it, for example tradesmen bringing waste home and burning it. Whether or not they are causing a statutory nuisance, they are committing an offence. 

Burning waste on a trade premises 

If the bonfire takes place on trade or industrial premises then there is an additional power given by the Clean Air Act 1993 where the bonfire is giving off dark or black smoke. 

Hazard to road users 

If the smoke from a bonfire poses a hazard to road users the police have powers to deal with it and you should report the incident to them.