Bonfires and smoke

You can have a bonfire in your garden as long as it’s not causing a problem for your neighbours. There are no smoke-free zones in the South Norfolk and Broadland areas.

Tips to avoid problems:

• only burn dry wood (wet wood gives off more smoke)
• never burn household rubbish or rubber tyres, or use oil to light the fire
• check to make sure your neighbours haven't hung washing outside
• avoid lighting a bonfire on damp days (smoke is more likely to hang in the air)
• be careful of wind direction - make sure smoke isn’t blowing over other people’s property
• avoid having a bonfire on a weekend or bank holiday when people want to enjoy their gardens
• never leave a fire unattended or leave it to smoulder - douse it with water if necessary

If you are affected by smoke from a bonfire

Your neighbour might not know their bonfire is affecting you so you should speak to them first to let them know. We are unable to take action for one-off bonfires, however if the problem is regular you can report it to us using the links below.

If you are affected by cannabis odour and smoke

If cannabis odour from a nearby property is affecting you, and you are not able to resolve the matter informally, you can report it to us online if it meets this threshold:

a) The odour is of a persistent nature (i.e. happening regularly).

b) The odour is having a detrimental effect on you or your family’s quality of life.

c) You are willing to assist the investigation of your complaint by being prepared to provide monitoring forms and if enforcement action is to be taken, to support that action by providing the appropriate witness statement and attend Court, if necessary.

Please note that we are unable to deal with complaints regarding cannabis smoking in public areas.