NEW BY-LAW - QUEBEC CITY

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. As of September 1st, 2026, all owners of a wood stove, a masonry wood insert, a factory-built wood fireplace (slow combustion), a wood furnace or a wood boiler must have an appliance certified to the CSAB415.1 or EPA emissions standard.

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/apropos/programmes-subventions/habitation/appareil-chauffage-bois.aspx

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;
  • A mass fireplace or masonry 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. Here are some examples:

TYPE OF APPLIANCE

CERTIFICATION PLATE LOCATION

Free-standing wood stove

On the back of the appliance

Masonry wood insert

On the side of the appliance, behind the decorative shroud

Factory-built fireplace

Behind the bottom louver

Boiler or furnace

On the side or the back of the appliance

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/apropos/programmes-subventions/habitation/appareils-chauffage-bois.aspx

Furnace

Caddy Advanced

PF01020 CADDY ADVANCED