Solid Fuel Burning Domestic Appliance Regulation

The purpose of the Solid Fuel Burning Domestic Appliance Regulation (SFBDAR) is to reduce pollution from wood smoke by regulating what appliances can be sold in B.C., what can be burnt in appliances, and for certain appliances—where they are installed. 

What is covered in the regulation?

The SFBDAR covers "appliances" designed for burning solid fuel (wood) to produce heat for heating, cooking or for aesthetic enjoyment, but does not include:

• barbecues,
• chimineas,
• outdoor fireplaces that are not used to heat indoor space,
• outdoor ovens, and
• solid fuel burning devices that:
  • have an output capacity rating greater than 150 kW, or
  • are certified by the manufacturer as having a maximum output capacity of greater than 150 kW

Typical appliances include wood stoves and inserts, pellet stoves, wood or pellet boilers and wood or pellet furnaces.

What can you burn?

A person must not burn anything other than untreated seasoned wood or wood products, such as pellets, in an appliance. Paper or cardboard may be used in an appliance but only for the purpose of starting a fire.

Vendor Requirements

Certified Appliances

Vendors in B.C. may only sell appliances that are certified to meet CSA or US EPA emission standards. They must maintain records showing the appliances they sell are certified. Typically, these certification records will be obtained from the manufacturer or distributor. 

Setback Requirements

A vendor must inform the consumer of setback requirements that apply to new outdoor boiler installations in B.C. This is done by providing a document to the consumer that demonstrates that they were informed, and retaining a copy for the same document for their own records,

Regulations require that new outdoor wood boilers are setback from adjacent property lines to minimize smoke impacts on neighbours. New outdoor wood boilers require a minimum 40-meter setback while new outdoor pellet boilers require a 10-meter setback.

More details on the regulation are provided in the SFBDAR fact sheet (PDF).

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Updates to the Regulation

The SFBDAR was first introduced in 1994. Significant updates were made in 2016. In updating the SFBDAR the Province consulted the public and stakeholders with two intentions papers that were posted on the B.C. government website and distributed to stakeholders. 

• 2010 Intentions Paper (PDF)
• 2010 Summary of Comment (PDF)
• Information Update–Policy Intentions (PDF) September 2015
• Summary of Comments on the 2015 Update (PDF) January 2016

All comments received were considered in drafting final amendments to the SFBDAR.