Environment
Air quality
Solid fuel stoves and fireplaces

Solid fuel stoves and fireplaces

On May 8, 2025, the Regulation concerning appliances and fireplaces that use solid fuel (Regulation No. 2025-241) came into effect.

The City, committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for its citizens, has decided to regulate the use of wood-burning heating appliances.

As a result, anyone who owned a fireplace on May 8, 2025, has 120 calendar days, i.e., until September 5, 2025, to declare their use of a wood stove or fireplace (solid fuel) by completing the declaration form. Even if you no longer use your solid fuel heating system, you must still declare it.

The form must be sent to the City by mail or email.

Download the declaration form

Starting in 2030: Ban on the use of appliances emitting more than 2.5 g/h

Ultimately, as of January 1, 2030, it will be prohibited to use a solid fuel appliance unless it emits less than 2.5 grams of particulate matter per hour, regardless of the fuel used.

This emission rate must:

  • Be certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); or
  • Comply with Canadian standard CSA/B415.1-10.

To ensure that your appliance is compliant, check its technical specification sheet. One of the two accepted certifications must be listed, and the number of grams of particulate matter emitted per hour must also be indicated. If you find that your appliance is not compliant, you have nearly five years to take action.

Main questions on the application of the regulation

It is the owner's responsibility to declare any solid fuel appliances. If you are a tenant and your home has a solid fuel stove or fireplace, check that the owner has submitted the declaration.

If you own several properties with solid fuel fireplaces or heating appliances, you must declare them all. You must use one declaration per property.

What to do if your installation does not comply with regulations? If you wish to install a new solid fuel stove or fireplace (wood, coal, eco-friendly logs, pellets) or if you wish to modify an existing appliance or remove it completely, in some cases you must obtain a permit from the Urban Planning, Permits, and Inspection Department.

Situations requiring a permit

If the removal of an old fireplace or the installation of a new fireplace requires structural modification or modification of the building envelope, a building permit is required.

If the new fireplace to be installed will be used as a heating system for the building, a certificate of authorization is required.

Please also note that you must obtain a permit before installing, replacing, or removing a stove or fireplace that uses another fuel (oil, natural gas, or propane).

For all other situations, no permit or certificate is required.

Once you have obtained the permit and completed the work, be sure to comply with the regulations in force by reporting the installation, replacement, or removal of your appliance within 120 days, otherwise you may be subject to a fine.

The answer to this question is simple: because wood heating is responsible for 14% of fine particle emissions from human activity each year (Ministry of the Environment, 2022) and is one of the main causes of smog in winter.

So, even though it warms our hearts on cold winter days, wood heating has consequences for our health and air quality. Fine particles are composed of atmospheric contaminants such as carbon monoxide. Exposure to particulate matter can cause symptoms such as:

  • nausea;
  • dizziness;
  • headaches;
  • irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat;
  • worsening of asthma and other respiratory problems.

Limiting the emission of particulate matter into the atmosphere therefore promotes better air quality and contributes to improving public health.

A solid fuel appliance is a stove or fireplace designed to burn logs or other solid materials, such as eco-friendly logs, coal, or pellets.

A gas or electric fireplace is not a solid fuel appliance.

Prohibition during smog periods

In the event of smog, no solid fuel appliances may be used, even certified appliances, under penalty of a fine.

The Regulation respecting the prohibition of the use of wood-burning fireplaces during smog periods (Regulation No. 2019-173) prohibits the use of these appliances when a smog warning issued by Environment Canada is in effect for a region that includes all or part of the city's territory.

Check Environment Canada alerts so you don't miss any smog warnings or to view daily weather forecasts: Alerts - Environment Canada.

Additional information

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