Smoke and bonfires

We urge residents to be considerate to their neighbours by not lighting bonfires or using wood burners.

There are no laws or by-laws preventing residents from having bonfires within the borough. 

However, the smoke, ash and odour created by bonfires often has an impact on surrounding residents. It can severely affect vulnerable residents and those suffering from respiratory symptoms.

The law allows you to have a bonfire at any time of the day providing that the smoke given off from the fire does not cause a nuisance.  

You might be breaking the law if:

  • smoke enters people's houses
  • smoke blows across gardens and prevents your neighbours' normal use of their gardens
  • smoke affects people's washing
  • smoke blows across a highway (road or footpath)

Report smoke or bonfires

Report smoke or bonfires that you think may be breaking the law to us.

Email: environmental.health@woking.gov.uk 
Telephone: 01483 743 840

Tips for having a bonfire 

Tips for having a bonfire without causing a nuisance:

  • only burn dry material
  • never leave a fire unattended
  • never use petrol, paraffin, diesel, lighter fluid or old oil to encourage the fire
  • avoid having a bonfire at weekends or bank holidays
  • warn people nearby that could be affected
  • avoid damp or still weather conditions, as the smoke will not disperse effectively

You should not use a bonfire to dispose of your domestic waste.

Find out about other methods of reducing and recycling waste.