Wood Burning Fireplaces

Air Quality Management District (AQMD) rule 445 prohibits the installation of wood burning fireplaces in both new and existing developments with a few exceptions.  Only gas burning decorative appliances and fireplaces (factory made and site built) with a listed gas log permanently affixed to its base may be installed.    The chimney damper must be permanently blocked open if a gas log is added to a fireplace.

Please see the AQMD website for a summary of the rules (http://www.aqmd.gov/healthyhearths/PDFDocuments/Rule445Summary.pdf),

 FAQ
(http://www.aqmd.gov/healthyhearths/pdfdocuments/builders_faq.pdf)

The text of the AQMD law
 (http://www.aqmd.gov/rules/reg/reg04/r445.pdf).