Rules for wood-burning stoves in France for winter 2026/2027

Wood-burning stoves remain popular across France, though residents should be aware of the main rules surrounding their usage.

There are minimum requirements for products to comply with in some areas, and limits on using certain types of wood-burning heating in some areas of France.

We cover the main rules below, including installation requirements and explain what insurers will look for.

Restrictions on some wood-burning appliances 

The first thing to cover is the restrictions in place.

There are no national plans to ban wood-burning stoves, however, some heating types have been restricted due to their impact on air quality.

This largely applies to open-hearth fireplaces, which can emit fine particles both inside homes and the wider atmosphere and can be harmful if inhaled. 

Lille was the latest area to ban open-hearth fireplaces on November 1, 2026, following Lyon, parts of the Alps, and certain limits in the Île-de-France region. 

In Lyon and Grenoble, there are partial bans on wood-burning stoves, but only if they do not meet certain air quality standards. If you live in one of the impacted areas, you will need to check this with your mairie.

Following the rollout in Lille, we answered a reader’s question about changes to wood-burning fireplaces and other heating rules in 2027, which you can read here. 

It covers the restrictions in more detail, as well as the advice to modernise wood-burning equipment at properties across France, as well as possible funding for doing so. 

It also looks at the delayed plans for French homes to install modern thermostats, which have been pushed back to 2030.

Obtain safety certificate for installations

If you are looking to upgrade your wood-burning stove, you should ensure that it fulfils the minimum safety and technical requirements. 

Installation of wood stoves and chimneys in France are covered by the Documents Techniques Unifiés (DTU), a set of approved construction standards.

In particular, DTU 24.1 and DTU 24.2 require that wood stoves:

• Have sufficient ventilation

• Have sufficient sealing on the chimney flue

• Be mechanically stable

• Tolerate expansion due to heat

You should also check that the stove or chimney you want has the ‘Flamme Verte’ logo, showing its ecological credentials. 

In Lyon, for example, this is a requirement for all wood-stove installations (or an official equivalent rating).

There is no law stating that property owners need to hire a specialist to install heating systems, but only a specialist can provide a certificate to confirm that the system has been correctly and safely installed. 

Note that if you are looking to fund the installation of the heater through the MaPrimeRénov’ scheme or Certificats d'Économies d'Énergie (CEE, energy savings certificates), the equipment needs to be installed by someone who is RGE-certified.

This certificate is important for your home insurance. 

Insurers may not offer a policy covering your home unless you have a certificate of conformity for its installation (proving it adheres to the DTU requirements). They may require you to organise an inspection prior to offering coverage.

In the event of a fire or other incident at your home, insurers will usually ask for this document – or an installation invoice – to prove that your fireplace was safely installed. 

If you cannot provide it, then your insurer may not cover the damages caused by the incident. 

Check your policy carefully, and inform your insurer of any updates to the appliance you use (with accompanying safety certificate).

You could even face civil or criminal action in the event of a fire, if you do not have a valid safety certificate for your installation. 

Reminder of chimney sweeping rules 

If your appliance has a chimney flue, or your property has a traditional fireplace that you use to heat the home, you need to ensure the chimney is cleaned correctly.

This requires an annual inspection and clean from a professional chimney sweep – and note that some insurers require multiple sweeps.

An overview of the rules is available in our article here.