Domestic Bonfires
Environmental Health deals with complaints about domestic bonfires. A domestic bonfire is a fire lit on private property (usually in a garden) for burning garden waste such as leaves or other natural materials. It is not for burning household rubbish.
There is no specific law that bans garden bonfires outright. It is better to avoid it if you can as it's better for you, your neighbours and the environment.
However, if you do choose to have a domestic bonfire you must not cause a nuisance to neighbours or harm the environment.
There are no set times when you can or can't have a bonfire. However, you should try to avoid burning when people have washing out to dry or are likely to be disturbed by a fire. This is likely to give rise to complaints, and problems with your neighbours.
What can you burn?
Allowed: You should restrict the waste you burn to dry (not green) garden waste and clean untreated timber.
Not allowed: You should never burn household rubbish, furniture, rubber tyres or anything containing plastic, foam, paint, glue or preservative. Burning these items creates noxious fumes that give off a range of poisonous compounds.
Safety
It is wise to keep the fire away from trees, fences and buildings. Never apply petrol, as the invisible fumes around the petrol catch fire explosively. You should warn your neighbours in advance and choose a calm, dry day avoiding windy conditions. You should keep the fire small and controlled and never leave a bonfire unattended. Avoid lighting bonfires at night or during weekends when people are outdoors.
Health
As well as having the potential to annoy neighbours, bonfires contribute to air pollution and can adversely impact on the health of people with lung conditions such as asthma.
Smoke Nuisance
While it is common to burn garden waste on an occasional bonfire, regular fires which cause smoke nuisance for neighbours might be viewed as a statutory nuisance.
The statutory nuisance provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 allow the Council to serve a notice on a person causing a nuisance to neighbours from bonfires. The legislation also allows private individuals to take action against you if you are causing them a nuisance. For more information on how nuisance is assessed see our page on Statutory Nuisance law.
Under the Clean Air Act 1993 you must not burn materials that emit dark smoke (plastics, tyres, treated wood, etc).
Bonfire Night
Construction of unauthorised bonfires on council or vacant land should be reported to the Environmental Education/Enforcement Officers.
Advice for animal owners can be found on the Animal Welfare Bonfire Night - advice for dog owners page.
Levels of fine particulates in urban areas rise greatly on Bonfire Night. Increased particulate levels can trigger existing respiratory (breathing) conditions such as asthma. For more information, see Article on elevated air pollutants on Bonfire Night (opens new window). If you already have a respiratory condition, you may wish to sign up for the Air Quality 'Know and Respond' Service(opens new window), which gives warnings when air pollutant levels are expected to be higher. Whilst it can't give information on a town by town basis, it gives users up to date information on air quality to allow them to make informed choices.
