Compliance.
It pays to know the rules.
A fire is a long-term investment in your home. Getting the compliance right from the start means no surprises later. No costly changes, no insurance complications, and no consent issues when it comes time to sell.
Here's what you need to know.
Canterbury's Clean Air Zones
Where you live in Canterbury determines what you can install.
Environment Canterbury (ECan) manages air quality across the region through the Canterbury Air Regional Plan. Eight Clean Air Zones have been established in urban areas with a history of poor air quality, in Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Christchurch, Ashburton, Washdyke/Timaru, Geraldine, and Waimate. Each zone has its own rules, and the rules can also differ depending on the size of your property.
The boundary of the clean airshed for ULEB
Approved and authorised LEB & ULEB models
For properties within Christchurch's Clean Air Zone, only Ultra-Low Emission Burners (ULEBs) emitting under 0.4g/kg of PM10 are approved for new installations. Properties of two hectares or larger can install most approved wood burners regardless of regional plan restrictions, under the national rule embedded in the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality.
Low Emission Burners already installed can continue to be used for up to 20 years after installation. Open fires and older wood burners that do not meet current emission standards are not permitted.
The 2027 deadline
Across Canterbury, approximately 12,400 wood burners don't meet current emission standards, with over 10,000 of these located in the Christchurch Clean Air Zone. Thousands more are set to become non-compliant by the end of 2027 and will need to be replaced with either a newer compliant model or an alternative heating source.
If you have an older burner, it's worth checking its status sooner rather than later. ECan's Solid Fuel Burner Database allows you to search your address and find out exactly when your appliance is due to expire. And if you are still not sure, our expert team is available to provide no obligation, free advice on what you need to know.
National emission standards
All new wood burners installed after 1 September 2005 must have a particle emission of less than 1.5 grams per kilogram of dry wood burnt and a thermal efficiency of greater than 65%. These are the national minimums. Canterbury's rules are stricter.
New Zealand operates three national emission tiers:
Ultra-Low Emission Burner (ULEB) at under 0.4g/kg PM10, mandatory for new installs in Canterbury's Clean Air Zone. Low Emission Burner (LEB) at under 1.0g/kg PM10, accepted in most regions outside Canterbury's strictest zones. Clean Air standard at under 1.5g/kg, the national minimum for any new install since 2005. All three are measured under AS/NZS 4012 and 4013 test conditions.
Building consent
Building consent is mandatory for all wood burner installations in New Zealand. It is classified as Restricted Building Work under the Building Act 2004, meaning it must be carried out by a Licensed Building Practitioner holding the Solid Fuel Appliance Installation Technician (SFAIT) designation.
Installing a wood burner without proper certification and consent means your council may refuse to issue a Code Compliance Certificate. Worse still, your insurance could be void in the event of a fire.
The consent confirms the appliance meets air quality requirements for your zone, the flue installation meets NZS 7634, and the hearth and clearances comply with C/AS1 fire protection standards.
Second-hand fireboxes also require building consent and must first obtain a certificate from the Home Heating Association of New Zealand confirming the appliance is still suitable for use. All second-hand heaters require a new flue.
Smoke alarms
Smoke alarms are compulsory in all new construction, including additions and alterations where a building consent is required. Alarms must have a battery life of at least eight years or be hard-wired.
We handle this for you
Compliance isn't something you should have to navigate alone. We understand the rules for every part of Canterbury, and we'll make sure your installation is fully consented, correctly registered, and ready for inspection before anything is signed off.
What about outdoor fires?
Outdoor fireplaces fall under separate regulations that are more lenient than those governing indoor heating. Outdoor cooking structures including BBQs, pizza ovens, and fire pits are explicitly allowed in Clean Air Zones, as long as smoke doesn't create a nuisance beyond your property boundary. For properties under two hectares in Canterbury, burning garden waste outdoors is not permitted.
Before you choose your fire.
Check your zone
Your location and property size can affect which fires you can install.
Check your existing burner
Find its age and expiry information in ECan's Solid Fuel Burner Database.
Check the appliance
Make sure the model is currently authorised for use in Canterbury.
Check your installation
A new burner requires the appropriate consent and correct installation.
Check your fuel
Burn good, dry, seasoned firewood and follow ECan's requirements for smoke-free burning.
Ask us
If you're unsure, talk to Heatstore before you buy. We'd rather help you get it right than have you discover the rules afterwards.