What to do about neighbours with smoky wood heaters

Talk to your neighbours if their wood heater is producing a lot of smoke. If this doesn't work, report the nuisance to your local council.

Wood smoke can become a serious environmental nuisance for neighbours, affecting their health and their enjoyment of their home and quality of life.

EPA encourages neighbours to resolve problems between themselves where possible. We all need to give greater consideration to the impacts we might be having on our neighbours.

If your neighbour's wood heater is producing smoke or odour that is affecting the enjoyment of your property, you can do something about it.

Gaining further advice

Before talking to your neighbour, think through the issue. View guidance on how to resolve a nuisance issue with neighbours to improve the likelihood of an agreeable outcome.

For advice and information about what to do when you find yourself wanting to discuss and mediate an issue or if you are in a dispute with your neighbour, contact the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria on 1800 658 528. Get information to guide you in making contact with your neighbour to resolve the issue.

For advice and information on wood smoke pollution and what to discuss with your neighbour, talk to an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) at your local council. Identify which local government area you live in.

Your neighbour may need help on how to reduce the amount of smoke from their wood heater. View tips on how to reduce wood smoke when using your wood heater (PDF 1025KB).

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Reporting a complaint

If you are unable to resolve the issue with your neighbour, you can report an issue of wood smoke pollution to an EHO at your local council. Local government powers concerning wood smoke pollution issues are dealt with under the nuisance provisions – Part 3 - of the Health Act 1958. Under these provisions, the owner of a property or the person causing the nuisance must take all reasonable steps to eliminate the nuisance.

If a complaint is made about wood smoke, it is the role of council to investigate. Providing the EHO with clear, succinct information can assist the officer to understand and respond to the issue.

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