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Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program

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Before you use a residential indoor wood-burning stove, fireplace, or furnace in the Metro Vancouver region you must provide a declaration to follow best burning practices. Eligible devices located within the Urb​an Containment Boundary​, must also be registered. Learn more about Residential Indoor Wood Burning.​


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 ​​​​
Electric Heat Pump
​​$1,500​​$3,000​
Pellet Stove​​$1,000​​​$2,000
Certified Wood-Burning Appliance$600​​​$1,200
Electric Insert​​$400$400
U​ncertified Wood-Burning Appliance Removal​​$300 ​​​$300​​

​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 com​​bined 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.​​​


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 par​​ticipate

Step 1 – Determine i​f 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 (must be replaced with an electric insert to qualify; wood-burning inserts are not eligible).​
  • 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 Woo​​d Smoke Reduction Program Coordinator by emailing ​CWSRP@metrovancouver.org​.​

​​Step 3 – O​btain​​ pe​rmits

  • Contact your municipality about permitting requirements for the installation of your new appliance.
  • If you're installing a wood burning unit, you may want to contact your home insurance company to find out whether they have any additional installation requirements.

​Step 4 – Disable and recycle your old appliance and install new eligible appliance through your participating retailer

​Step 5 – Fill out the application form and submit your application to Metro Vancouver

Fill out the application form and complete necessary paperwork. Ensure that the application form has been signed by the participating retailer. Submit your application package through a participating retailer or email your application package to CWSRP@metrovancouver.org. Please note that it may take 8 – 10 weeks before you receive the rebate cheque via Canada Post following the submission of a completed application.​

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