The quickest way to check whether your wood-burning or multi-fuel stove is DEFRA exempt is to find its manufacturer and exact model, then check that model on the official DEFRA exempt-appliance list.If your exact model is listed, it is a DEFRA-exempt appliance — but you should still open the entry and check which fuel it is exempt to burn and whether any conditions apply.
Check the official DEFRA exempt-appliance list →
CURRENT CAMBRIDGE POSITION
Cambridge currently has three existing Smoke Control Areas.
Cambridge City Council has confirmed that the new citywide Smoke Control Area will come into force on 1 April 2027, replacing the three existing areas. It will cover the Cambridge City Council administrative area, excluding residential moored vessels.
If your home is outside the existing Smoke Control Areas, the new restrictions will apply from 1 April 2027. You can continue using your stove in the meantime, subject to existing laws, but should check its DEFRA status and permitted fuels before the new rules begin.
You need the exact model, not just the manufacturer’s name.
Start by looking for the stove’s data plate or identification label. Depending on the stove, this may be on the back, side, underneath the appliance or in another location specified by the manufacturer.
You can also check:
the user or installation manual;
the original invoice or paperwork;
the manufacturer’s website.
If you still can’t identify it, take clear photos of the stove and use Google Lens or an AI image tool to help identify the manufacturer and model.
Treat the result as a starting point rather than confirmation. Once you have a likely make and model, use the official DEFRA list in Step 2 to verify the exact appliance.
Do not assume every stove made by the same manufacturer has the same DEFRA status.
2. Check the Official DEFRA Exempt-Appliance List
Once you have the manufacturer and model, search the official list:
Search the official DEFRA exempt-appliance list →Your exact appliance needs to be listed. If it is, open its detailed entry.
The entry tells you which fuel the appliance is exempt to burn and may also include conditions about how that particular stove must be installed or operated.
3. What Does the DEFRA Result Mean for My Stove?
If You Have a DEFRA-Exempt Wood-Burning Stove
If your exact model is exempt for burning wood, you can burn suitable wood in it in a Smoke Control Area, subject to the conditions of its exemption and the manufacturer’s instructions.
A wood-burning-only stove is still designed for wood. DEFRA exemption does not turn it into a multi-fuel stove, so do not assume you can burn smokeless solid fuel in it.
If You Have a DEFRA-Exempt Multi-Fuel Stove
If its exemption permits wood, you can burn wood. You can also use suitable authorised solid fuel if the stove is designed to burn it.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and the conditions shown for the exact appliance.
Read our DEFRA-exempt stove guide →
If You Have a Non-DEFRA Multi-Fuel Stove
You cannot burn wood in it once Smoke Control Area rules apply to your home.
You may, however, be able to keep using the stove with suitable authorised fuel if the manufacturer says the stove is designed to burn it.
If You Have a Non-DEFRA Wood-Burning Stove
You cannot simply switch to smokeless solid fuel if the stove is designed only for wood.
Your practical options are to convert it if the manufacturer offers an appropriate conversion and the resulting configuration is covered by a DEFRA exemption, replace it with a DEFRA-exempt stove, or remove it and return to an open fireplace using suitable authorised fuel.See your options for a non-DEFRA stove →
Is an Ecodesign Stove Automatically DEFRA Exempt?
No. Do not use Ecodesign status as proof that a stove is DEFRA exempt.
They are different requirements. If you need to know whether you can burn wood in a Smoke Control Area, check your exact model on the official DEFRA exempt-appliance list.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my log burner is DEFRA approved?
Find the manufacturer and exact model, then search for that model on the official DEFRA exempt-appliance list. If it is listed, open the entry and check the permitted fuel and any conditions.
How do I know if my multi-fuel stove is DEFRA approved?
The process is the same: find the exact manufacturer and model and check it against the official DEFRA exempt-appliance list. Being a multi-fuel stove does not automatically make it DEFRA exempt.
Can I burn wood if my stove is DEFRA exempt?
Yes, if the exemption for your exact appliance permits wood. Check the appliance entry and follow its conditions and the manufacturer’s instructions.
Is an Ecodesign stove automatically DEFRA exempt?
No. Check the exact model on the official DEFRA exempt-appliance list rather than relying on its Ecodesign status.
What if my stove is not on the DEFRA list?
Do not assume it is exempt. If it is a non-DEFRA multi-fuel stove, you may still be able to use suitable authorised fuel. If it is a wood-burning-only stove, you cannot simply switch to smokeless solid fuel.
