On April 19, 2021, Quebec City announced a new municipal by-law (RVQ 2954) that regulates the use of wood-burning appliances, with an aim to limit the emission of fine particles into the air. 

• From September 1, 2026, all owners of a freestanding or insert stove, a prefabricated slow combustion fireplace, a furnace or a wood boiler must have an appliance certified according to the standard CSAB415.1 or EPA.
  • For appliances installed before this date: CSAB415.1 or EPA certification without restriction in terms of particle emission rate.
  • For appliances installed after this date: certification according to the most recent version of the standard at 2.5 g/h.
• From January 1, 2024: ban on installing a non-certified decorative or ambience fireplace (unless purchased before this date) and from September 1, 2030, ban on using them.
• Owners currently owning a solid fuel appliance must declare it by April 1, 2024 or within 90 days following the installation or removal of a new appliance.

You do not have an appliance yet and want to install one?

For new constructions or new installation, any solid fuel burning heating appliance must meet the most recent EPA or CSAB415.1 certification. Its fine particles emission rate must not exceed 2.5 g/h. In the case of a furnace or boiler, the maximum emission rate is set at 0.065 g/MJ. By “solid fuel burning heating appliance”, the bylaw means a stove, a masonry insert, a factory-built fireplace (slow combustion), a boiler or a furnace that burns wood, wood pellets or any other fuel in its solid form. We have provided a list of our appliances that comply with this requirement at the bottom of this page.

Do you have an uncertified appliance that you want to remove or replace?

Quebec City has implemented a program to remove and replace uncertified wood-burning appliances. Eligible wood-burning appliances are: stoves, masonry inserts, factory-built fireplaces (slow combustion), as well as furnaces or boilers whose particulate emissions have not been tested according to the EPA or CSA B415-1 standard.

• Subsidy of up to 90% of the cost of the new certified appliance (wood or wood pellets), up to a maximum amount of $1,000. 
• An amount of $100 for the withdrawal of a non-certified wood appliance, without replacement.
• For all the program details and conditions, consult Quebec City’s web site (french only): https://www.ville.quebec.qc.ca 

The wood-burning appliances that can continue to be used and/or installed after September 1st, 2026, but that do not qualify for the subsidy are:

• A decorative fireplace (until 2030);
• A mass fireplace;
• An appliance designed primarily for cooking food;
• A boiler or furnace with an output equal to or greater than 150 kilowatts;
• An appliance intended for use exclusively outside a building;
• An appliance used for commercial purposes;
• A maple evaporator.

How to you know if an appliance is CSA B415.1 or EPA certified?

To check if your appliance is certified for emissions, you need to locate its certification label. This label can be found in different places depending on the type of appliance you own. 

You can also consult your owner’s manual. Here are additional tips:

• Any appliance purchased before 1990 is certainly uncertified;
• Any new appliance purchased in the Province of Quebec starting September 1st, 2009, should in theory be certified (unless it belongs to an exempt category, such as a decorative factory-built wood fireplace) because the province adopted its wood-heating regulation at that date, limiting retail sales to certified appliances only.

For more information, consult the Quebec City’s web site (french only): https://www.ville.quebec.qc.ca