Solid fuel heating appliances (fireplaces)
There are safety issues associated with any appliance that contains fire so a building consent is required to ensure correct installation. This includes:
- installing or replacing a solid fuel heating appliance
a code compliance certificate is required when the building work is completed;
- relocating a solid fuel heating applicance
this applies regardless of how far the appliance is being moved. A written report from an approved installer confirming it is suitable for use and complies with the relevant emission standards must also be provided;
- substantially replacing any part of an appliance
if you are just replacing the firebricks or the flue, you do not need a building consent. Regardless of whether a building consent is required, all work must comply with the Building Code. Maintenance on your current appliance does not require a building consent.
Outdoor fireplaces can be installed outdoors in the Auckland region without building consent. Resource consent may be required even though a building consent is not.
If a solid fuel heating appliance has been installed without a building consent, council cannot issue one retrospectively. You will need to apply for a Certificate of Acceptance and provide a third party report verifying that the appliance is safe to be used and complies with the air emission standards.
Approved installers
Approved installers can apply for the building consent on your behalf and install the appliance. On completion they will issue a producer statement construction, which confirms the installation has been completed and complies with the relevant clauses of the Building Code. They may also obtain a code compliance certificate from council on your behalf when the work is completed. Note: You will need to give the approved installer written authority to act on your behalf.
A list of approved installers is available on our website.
Second hand appliances
Second hand appliances must first be inspected by an approved installer. The installer must provide a written report confirming it is suitable for use and complies with the relevant emission standards (see below). Their report and the manufacturer’s installation instructions must be supplied with the building consent application.
See also:
Other rules and regulations
There are two sets of regulations that control domestic fires in the Auckland region:
1. The National Environmental Standards (NES)
All solid fuel heating appliances must be tested and show compliance with the NES emission and efficiency standards. The emission standard means it is illegal to use any wood burner that was installed after 1 September 2005 (on a site less than two hectares) that does not comply with this standard.
The NES defines a woodburner as a domestic heating appliance that burns wood, but does not include:
- an open fire
- pellet burner
- coal burning heater; or
- stove that is designed and used for cooking
Note: the above exclusions must still comply with the ARC Air, Land and Water Plan (refer to section below for further information).
The NES are nationwide regulations that restrict the discharge of particles into air from woodburners. They require new woodburners installed on properties of less than two hectares to meet:
a) A particle emission rate of less than 1.5g/kg (grams of particulate per kilogram of wood burnt); and
b) A thermal efficiency of at least 65% (percentage of thermal heat produced in comparison to the amount of energy available).
A list of approved appliances is available on the Ministry for Environment website.
2. Auckland Regional Council Air, Land and Water Plan
Under this plan there are rules controlling what types of domestic fires you can install and how these fires must be operated to help reduce the effect domestic fires may have on your health - and to stop any nuisance being caused to your neighbours from smoke, ash or smells.
The rules require that domestic fires:
a) Not cause a nuisance to neighbours from smoke, ash or smells; and
b) Meet a particle emission rate of 4 g/kg or less for new domestic fires in urban areas.
Domestic heating appliances (including open fires) that were installed before 1 September 2005, and those in rural areas, are allowed to continue but need to ensure that their emissions do not pose an unacceptable risk to human health beyond the site boundary.
Table 1: Rules for domestic fires installed after 1 September 2005
| Rural areas |
Greater than or equal to 2ha |
Domestic fire permitted |
| Less than 2ha |
Woodburners must meet a particle emission rate of <1.5g/kg and a thermal efficiency rate of >65% (NES) |
| Less than 2ha |
Other domestic fires permitted |
| Urban, coastal and industrial areas |
Greater than or equal to 2ha |
All domestic fires must meet a particle emission rate of <4g/kg (PARP: ALW) |
| Less than 2ha |
Less than 2ha Woodburners must meet a particle emission rate of <1.5g/kg and a thermal efficiency rate of >65% (NES) |
| Less than 2ha |
All domestic fires must meet a particle emission rate of <4g/kg (PARP: ALW) |
Zoning requirements mentioned in Table 1 above are not the same as those in the District Plan. You will therefore need to check with your local council office to determine compliance for rural areas. Please note: Not all properties larger than two hectares are in the rural zone.
For further information, please refer to the rules for domestic fires.
Back to top