Introduction Regulations

Installation & Certification

Regulations

• Chimney smoke density – State law limits the density of chimney smoke – referred to as opacity – to 20%.  0% opacity means no smoke and 100% opacity means the smoke is so thick you can’t see anything behind it. (*Smoke density can exceed this limit for 20 minutes every four hours to start a fire and for six minutes once every hour to refuel the fire.)

• Burn only dry, clean, untreated wood or manufactured logs -  Paper is legal only for starting the fire.  It is illegal to burn anything else. 

• Smoke nuisance – It is illegal to impact neighboring properties with smoke, odor or ash.

• Burn Bans – Burn bans are called when air pollutants are measured at unhealthful levels.  The type of burn ban depends on the level of air pollution. Click here for burn ban information.

• Wood stove sales, installation and certification requirements - All wood heating appliances and factory-built fireplaces sold or installed in Washington must meet EPA certification requirements.  Click here for more information.