Bonfire guidelines

There are no byelaws that prevent garden bonfires being lit or that mean they can only be lit after 6pm. 

It is not illegal to have a garden fire and we can only take action on bonfires if the smoke or ash produced from a bonfire causes a statutory nuisance.

Considerations

Bonfires can cause inconvenience and have a negative effect on the environment.  

We discourage garden fires in the borough and if you are considering having a bonfire:

• only burn dry material
• never burn rubber, household rubbish or anything which contains plastic, foam or paint
• never use petrol, paraffin, diesel or lighter fluid to start the fire
• avoid burning on very windy days, damp or still weather conditions or when pollution levels are very high
• never leave a bonfire unattended
• discuss with your neighbours before considering lighting a bonfire

Alternatives to bonfires

Instead of having a bonfire:

• most organic refuse can be composted and returned to the soil or chipped and used as mulch
• it is free to dispose of your garden waste at one of Surrey County Council’s waste recycling centres