According to government guidance, there are no laws that prohibit you from burning rubbish and lighting bonfires in your garden. However, there are rules in place to prevent bonfires from causing a nuisance to neighbours or a hazard to safety, and there are certain types of waste you can and can’t burn.

Is having a garden fire illegal?

Remember it is not illegal to have a bonfire and there are no local bye-laws preventing you having one, however you must not cause a nuisance to your neighbours. A smoky bonfire or having garden bonfires on a frequent basis may well cause a nuisance and that can be an offence.

What are the rules for having a fire in your garden?

burn material quickly in small quantities so that a minimum of smoke is created. site your bonfire well away from trees, fences and windows, avoid windy days, and have a hosepipe or buckets of water ready nearby. rake ashes into the soil when cold, picking out larger pieces of charcoal first.

What garden fires are legal in UK?

There are no laws against garden fires, but there are laws against the nuisance they cause. However, it is advised to risk assess all aspects of any fire to ensure it is safe and not too close to buildings or other combustible materials. You can read more on the UK Government site.

What time can I have a fire in my garden UK?

The UK law states that you cannot set off fireworks between 11 pm and 7 am in a residential street or in a public area, meaning you can only do this at home from your back garden or yard.

How do I report a Neighbour burning rubbish?

If your neighbour or someone else you see is illegally burning waste, then in the interest of your own health and the environment, please report the incident to the 24 hour National Environmental Complaints Line, lo-call telephone number 1800 365 123.

How do I report a Neighbour burning rubbish UK?

Call 0800 555 111 or report it online at

Are you allowed to burn rubbish in your garden UK?

Burning domestic waste

You cannot get rid of household waste if it will cause pollution or harm people’s health. This includes burning it. You can get rid of household or garden waste by composting or recycling it. Contact your local council to find out how to dispose of garden waste and about recycling in your area.

What are you allowed to burn on a bonfire?

You must make sure that the smoke from your bonfire doesn’t blow across a road and so cause danger to the traffic on it. You don’t burn anything that could cause pollution or harm to public health. That rules out burning anything like plastic, rubber, old engine oil, and anything else that might produce poisonous fumes

Can I burn wood in my garden UK?

Generally yes. However there are restrictions. You must not cause a nuisance to your neighbours and even then you should restrict the waste you burn to dry (not green) garden waste, clean timber, cardboard or paper. Burning other materials on an open fire may prove toxic, especially plastics, rubber, paint and oils.

Are bonfires banned?

There are no by-laws specifically banning or controlling bonfires. However frequent bonfires can cause a nuisance to neighbours.

Are bonfires illegal UK?

Garden bonfires

There are no laws preventing you from having a bonfire, as long as it does not cause a statutory nuisance to other people. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 a bonfire could be causing a statutory nuisance if it occurs regularly and prevents someone enjoying their garden or opening windows.

Can I have an open fire in my house?

You need to check with your local council to see whether your property is in a Smoke Control Zone or not. If it is, then you cannot burn wood or housecoal on an open fire. You will be restricted to smokeless fuels.

Can I burn cardboard in my garden?

Cardboard seems like an innocuous material, but that’s not always the case. Cardboard can cause a surge of fire that could injure anyone sitting or standing too close. According to the USDA Forest Service, cardboard also releases chemicals into the air from the ink printed on the boxes.

When can you light a bonfire in the UK?

Bonfire rules in the UK can be complicated by their vagueness. It’s not illegal to light bonfires, and there are no official restrictions on when or how often they can be burned.

Are Neighbours allowed to burn rubbish?

The burning of waste which emits smoke that causes a nuisance is illegal and is an offence under the Clean Air Act 1993 and action can also be taken under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Household waste should not be burned on a bonfire as many items of household waste can be recycled.

What is backyard burning?

Backyard burning refers to the burning of household trash by residents on their own property. Trash typically burned can include paper, cardboard, food scraps, plastics, and yard trimmings-essentially any materials that would otherwise be recycled or sent to a landfill.

Can I have a fire in my backyard Qld?

You can have an outdoor fire pit in your backyard provided no local fire ban is in place and that the fire doesn’t become an environmental nuisance through smoke or odour. You cannot light a fire for any reason when there is a declared fire ban or fire emergency.