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Due to essential maintenance, the following systems will be unavailable from 6.00pm on Monday 2 October until 8.00am on Tuesday 3 October: our online council tax, business rates and housing benefit services, and our welfare assistance form. You will also not be able to register to pay council tax online, make a change of address for council tax or cancel single person discount. You are still able to make a payment during this time. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Apply for a chimney under the Clean Air Act


The Clean Air Act 1993 covers a wide range of regulations, including control of smoke emissions, the height of chimneys and the content and composition of motor fuels.

We are able to ensure that smoke is spread effectively and reduce the level of pollution over your homes, by controlling the height of chimneys.

Under section 14 of the Act, you must have the height of your chimney approved by us and follow the conditions of use, if you use, or let someone else use, a furnace to:

  • burn pulverised fuel or any other solid matter at a rate of 45.5kg/h or greater
  • burn any liquid or gaseous matter at a rate equivalent to 366.4 kilowatts or more

If your chimney is not approved, it is an offence to burn these.

Applying for approval

Any application for chimney height approval must contain the required information, including a stack height calculation that takes into consideration any pollutants caused by the furnace. For further advice on the calculation, or support to complete the application form contact us.

We will consider your application and give you a written decision within 28 days of receipt. If we fail to deal with the application within this time period, then approval without qualification is given. A longer period may be allowed if you have agreed it in writing with us. 

Contact us
Customer Services
03000 26 0000
Our address is:
  • Durham County Council
  • County Hall
  • Durham
  • County Durham
  • United Kingdom
  • DH1 5UQ
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