Bonfires

Smoke caused by bonfires may be a considered to be a statutory nuisance, and people causing a serious problem may be fined up to £5,000. 

Smoke can potentially contain gases and particles which can affect the health of children and people with asthma, bronchitis or heart problems.

Smoke from garden bonfires can sometimes cause inconvenience to nearby residents.

There are no local laws that stop people from having bonfires in their gardens, unless their tenancy agreement says otherwise.

We can only act if the smoke is causing a serious and ongoing nuisance. To decide this, we look at:

• how much smoke is being produced
• how often it happens
• how long it lasts
• how it affects neighbouring residents

For us to take formal action, the smoke would usually need to happen regularly and have a significant impact on someone's enjoyment of their home or on their health and wellbeing.

A bonfire that only happens occasionally or creates smoke for a short period is unlikely to be considered a nuisance in law.

Many issues relating to bonfire smoke can be resolved informally. In some cases, the person having the bonfire may be unaware that the smoke is affecting neighbouring properties. A polite and respectful conversation is often the quickest and most effective way to resolve the matter.

If you do not feel comfortable approaching your neighbour directly, you may wish to use a Dear neighbour card. This provides a way to communicate the issue anonymously. If you would prefer not to deliver the card by hand, it can also be posted. You may find it helpful to include how the behaviour is affecting you, as this can assist your neighbour in understanding the impact.

If you have spoken to your neighbour and the problem continues, you can report nuisance bonfires on the form below:

Council tenants are not allowed to have bonfires at their property, as this is prohibited under the terms of their tenancy agreement. If you are aware of a council tenant having a bonfire please, contact the relevant housing officer.

Burning commercial waste, chemical waste, plastics, rubber, treated wood or other hazardous materials can produce harmful smoke and may be an offence under environmental legislation.

Bonfires on commercial or business premises are investigated by our Environmental Health team.

If you are concerned about smoke from a commercial bonfire or the burning of chemical or other waste materials, please email our Environmental Health team on environmentalservices@crawley.gov.uk for advice or to report the issue. The team will assess the information provided and decide whether further investigation is required.

• compost 
• recycle
• garden waste collections
• household waste recycling site
• special collections (unwanted furniture and household appliances)

• never burn household rubbish, plastic, rubber, furniture foam or tarred felt
• do not light a bonfire if it is wet or windy or very dry
• never leave a bonfire unsupervised or leave it to smoulder
• avoid burning at weekends and on Bank Holidays, when neighbours want to be outside 
• only burn dry material as this will minimise the amount of smoke produced