Chimney use set to be banned in 690 French communes
Open fires are considered to be some of the worst air polluters
The rules for fires vary in France depending on type and area
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France is to ban chimney use in 690 communes nationwide by the end of 2026, with the ban set to extend to open fires, ranges, and woodburning stoves.
Increasing numbers of municipalities are set to ban (or have already banned) fires in homes due to the air pollution emissions they cause. These are considered environmentally unfriendly and also that they contribute to rising levels of fine particle pollution, which can cause health and respiratory problems.
Types of fires banned
The type of ban varies depending on the department or municipality.
For example, authorities in Isère are beginning to ban older fireplaces, including stoves, that date from before 2002.
Many municipalities are banning open fires completely.
For example, this includes:
The department of Haute-Savoie, which has banned “all open wood-burning heating devices, including auxiliary or decorative devices” in 41 municipalities in the Vallée de l’Arve, as part of its Plan de protection de l’atmosphère (PPA, see the complete list here)
Lyon, where a total ban already applies to 58 municipalities, and is set to be extended to the entire greater city (a total of 166 municipalities). The ban will apply in 90 municipalities in Rhône, 61 in Isère, and 15 in Ain.
Grenoble Alpes. A PPA here has covered 123 municipalities since October 2024, and was extended to all 297 municipalities in the area from January 1 (see the full list here).
The Saint-Étienne and Forez areas have implemented similar measures for 53 municipalities, plus five municipalities in the Saint-Étienne basin (see the list here) since April 2025. A further ban is now set to be extended to 140 more municipalities this year.
In Strasbourg, a ban has been in place in 33 municipalities since the end of the first quarter of 2025.
In Lille, restrictions are set to come into force across the metropolitan area’s 95 municipalities from November 1, 2026.
In some areas, rules depend on the type of fireplace and/or how old it is. For example, rules tend to be stricter for completely open fireplaces, in contrast to ‘closed fireplaces’ (those with an insert or stove). Rules may also differ for fireplaces that use wood pellets as opposed to logs.
Similarly, the fireplace’s use may also be a factor.
For example, Paris and the Île-de-France region had intended to ban fireplaces completely from 2015, but just one year later, the decision was reversed. Now, the ban now extends only to the use of fireplaces as a property’s main source of heating, in 435 municipalities (see the full list). Fireplaces used for decorative comfort or extra heating are still allowed.
There are also rules on how fireplaces must be installed, and manufacturing standards, to comply with the law. These rules are usually required by insurance companies before they will insure a home with a wood-burning stove.
Strict penalties
Penalties for non-compliance can be strict, with fines of €450 per infraction in many municipalities to €1,500 in Lille. Fines can double in the event of a repeat offence.
Open fireplaces are considered to be some of the worst polluters when it comes to air pollution, with fine particle emission up to 10 times’ greater than that from a modern appliance.
More bans are expected to come into force by 2030, especially for fireplaces manufactured and installed before 2002.
How do I know what the rules are in my area?
The best thing to do is to check with your local mairie. Rules tend to be stricter in urban areas but some rural areas also have precise rules if they are close to a dense forest, for example.
Other rules may also apply, particularly when it comes to the maintenance of fireplaces, to ensure safety.
For example, for chimneys, legislation introduced in 2023 requires them to be cleaned at least once per year, more in certain cases if requested by local authorities or your insurance provider.
You can check cleaning rules with local sweeps (ramoneurs), and your insurance company.
There are also different rules for chimeneas (cheminée d'extérieur) or fire pits (brasero) in private gardens. Typically, these are allowed – while open fires are not – because they are considered controlled. However, their use is normally not allowed if placed on a balcony.
It is not permitted to burn rubbish in an open fire in your garden in France.
