Fireplaces

There are some national regulations for installing wood burners.
A building consent is required before any fireplace is installed. 

If you are planning to install a wood burner, or want to move an existing wood burner within the same house, check that the model is on the government's list of approved 'clean air' burners. Visit the Homeheat Website 

To install a new wood burner  

If the wood burner is listed as approved on the Homeheat website, then you can:

• fill in the Solid Fuel Heater application form

you need to attach the following to your application form:

• Manufactures specifications and installation instructions
• A certificate of safety - (for secondhand fires only)
• Floor plan - (for free standing fires only)
• Details of location in relation to the hot water cylinder - (only if wet back installed)
• Smoke alarms must be installed - information is attached to the application form

Solid fuel heaters in a commercial premise may require a fire design report.

The fee is paid at the time the consent is submitted to Council see our consent fees

Building forms and pamphlets

Note : An inbuilt wood burner will require 2 inspections, one prior to the fire being installed and one after installation.

To install a secondhand wood burner

A secondhand wood burner can only be installed if it meets the standards or if the property is 2 hectares or more.

Check the Homeheat website to see if it is on the approved appliance list. 

You will need to get an approved installer to certify the secondhand wood burner and give you a Certificate of Safety.   Then you can submit your application to install a solid fuel heater.

Wood burners installed without a consent

If you purchase a house and realise the wood burner does not have a consent, it's unlikely that a retrospective consent can be issued.

Definition of a wood burner

A wood burner (required to meet Ministry for the Environment emission standards) is defined as a "domestic heating appliance that burns wood".

The following are excluded, but still require permits:

• A fire in the open air - (you require a fire permit)
  
• A multi-fuel burner - a coal burning heater, a pellet heater or a stove that is designed and used for cooking and heated by burning wood. You still require a building consent to install these appliances.