Before you use a residential indoor wood-burning stove, fireplace, or appliance in the Metro Vancouver region you must provide a declaration to follow best burning practices. Eligible appliances located within the Urban Containment Boundary, must also be registered.
Metro Vancouver residents are eligible to receive a rebate for trading in their old uncertified wood burning appliance for a new low emission appliance, through Metro Vancouver’s Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program.
New Appliance Type
(Exchange from Uncertified Wood Burning Appliance) | 2024 Rebate Amounts |
|---|
| Metro Vancouver | First Nation Communities
|
|---|
| Heat Pump | $1,500* | $3,000* |
| Pellet Stove | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| Certified Wood-Burning Appliance | $600 | $1,200 |
| Electric Insert | $400 | $400 |
| Uncertified Wood-Burning Appliance Removal | $300 | $300
|
*Eligible for an additional $300 if old appliance is decommissioned or recycled.
The eligible First Nation Communities fall into the following categories:
- A First Nation governing body, representing exclusively one or more First Nations
- Treaty First Nation governments and Nisga’a Government
Please note that rebates from Metro Vancouver can be combined with CleanBC incentives where applicable.
To meet Metro Vancouver’s Climate 2050 targets, and climate targets in the
CleanBC Roadmap to 2030, exchanges from wood burning appliances to natural gas or propane-fired appliances are not supported.
See our
Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program brochure.
Please note that rebates are limited and will be issued to qualifying residents on a first come, first served basis. The total rebate will never be more than the cost of the appliance.
How to participate
Step 1 – Determine if your appliance qualifies for an exchange
The following appliances qualify for a rebate under this program:
- A free-standing uncertified wood stove.
- An uncertified fireplace insert, or tube type heat exchanger with a face plate and door (like the 'Free Heat Machine' or 'Welenco') that is currently installed in an open hearth fireplace.
- An open hearth fireplace.
- An uncertified "wood furnace" (ducted, forced air, home heating appliance) - may only be replaced by an EPA certified wood furnace or pellet furnace or heat pump.
- A "homemade" or "barrel" stove.
- A wood-burning cook stove.
Step 2 – Shop for a new low emission appliance
When you are ready to shop for your new low-emission appliance, visit a participating retailer to arrange purchase. The following NEW units qualify as replacement appliances under this program:
- An electric heat pump that meets the criteria for BC Hydro's
heat pump rebate. The heat pump must be listed on the
rebate-eligible heat pump list.
- An electric insert.
- An EPA-certified wood stove or pellet stove.
- An EPA-certified wood insert or pellet insert.
- An EPA-certified factory-built wood fireplace – may only be accepted if it is replacing an uncertified wood stove or uncertified wood insert (not an existing factory-built fireplace).
- An EPA or CSA B415 certified wood or pellet furnace ONLY if it is replacing an existing uncertified wood burning furnace.
If you are removing an existing uncertified or certified wood-burning appliance, without installing a new appliance, please contact Metro Vancouver’s Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program Coordinator by emailing CWSRP@metrovancouver.org.