Scientific blog · Regulations
Stoves, fireplaces and fines of up to €5,000: what actually changes in Lombardy from 2026
Artur Cokaj ·
From 15 October 2026, Lombardy's requirements concern biomass heating installations above 35 kW. How they differ from existing rules for stoves and fireplaces, and the scope of the regional penalty.
Summary
Purpose. To clarify which installations are covered by the new Lombardy provisions applying from 15 October 2026, and to distinguish installations above 35 kW from domestic stoves and fireplaces.
Finding. DGR XII/3649/2024 concerns biomass heating installations for civil use with a rated thermal input above 35 kW. The 15 October 2027 deadline in DGR XII/4720/2025 instead concerns civil-use boilers up to 35 kW. Some restrictions on domestic appliances were already in force in Lombardy. The €500 to €5,000 penalty is regional and relates to the specific infringements established by Lombardy law.
1. The news concerns a regional measure
The press article of 16 October 2026 that prompted this discussion refers to a Lombardy deadline, but its headline may suggest new restrictions on all stoves and fireplaces in Italy. Lombardy Regional Government Resolution XII/3649 of 16 December 2024 instead concerns biomass-fired heating installations for civil use with a rated thermal input above 35 kW.
The Region states that it applies from 15 October 2026 and refers to Regional Decree no. 5817 of 23 April 2025, acknowledging the resolution's full effectiveness following the European procedure. This measure, on its own, does not constitute a nationwide ban on domestic appliances.
2. Requirements for installations above 35 kW
The threshold is expressed as rated thermal input. For installations above 35 and up to 500 kW, the annex requires boilers compliant with EN 303-5 and rated at least four stars. It sets limits for particulate matter, total organic carbon, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide, with values depending on the municipality's altitude and the fuel used by the installation being replaced, or on whether the installation is new.
In specified cases, a particulate abatement system must operate for more than 90% of operating hours; boilers also require a thermal buffer tank. Installations above 500 kW have a separate section, with their own limits and documentation requirements. Requirements for the 35–500 kW band do not automatically extend to that category.
| Scope in Lombardy | Main rule | Applies from |
|---|---|---|
| >35 and up to 500 kW, civil-use biomass installations | EN 303-5 boiler, at least 4 stars, differentiated emission limits and installation requirements. | 15 October 2026 |
| >500 kW, civil-use biomass installations | Emission limits and checks in the specific section of the DGR 3649 annex. | 15 October 2026 |
| Civil-use biomass boilers up to 35 kW | DGR XII/4720/2025 introduces boiler requirements. | 15 October 2027 |
| Domestic stoves and fireplaces | Existing regional rules and their exclusions or exemptions still need checking; the 2027 deadline does not postpone them collectively. | Pre-existing rules |
The star rating does not cover every obligation under DGR 3649. Check the power rating specified by the resolution, the model's environmental certification and the installed configuration.
3. The 2027 deadline does not postpone every stove rule
DGR XII/4720 of 14 July 2025 concerns civil-use heating installations consisting of biomass boilers with a rated thermal input of 35 kW or less. The text does not describe a general postponement for any lower-powered stove, insert or fireplace.
For biomass heat generators in Lombardy, the regional page refers to provisions already in force since 1 January 2020: new installations must have at least four stars, and appliances rated zero, one or two stars may not be used. Exclusions or exemptions are provided; examples cited by the Region include fireplaces, appliances up to 10 kW used occasionally for recreational purposes, and historical installations. Applicability depends on the actual conditions laid down in the rules.
The star system is an environmental classification defined by Ministerial Decree of 7 November 2017, no. 186. Each heat generator's class must be checked in its environmental certification or manufacturer documentation.
4. When the €500 to €5,000 penalty may apply
Article 27(4) of Lombardy Regional Law of 11 December 2006, no. 24 provides for an administrative penalty from €500 to €5,000 for failure to comply with Regional Government provisions on installation types and permitted biomass fuels, as referred to in Article 11(1)(b). The Region lists this law among the penalty provisions for biomass installations.
This amount does not mean an automatic nationwide fine for every stove owner or any missed maintenance task. Assessment depends on the applicable regional rule, the conduct established, the heat generator's characteristics and use, and any exemptions. Inspections are performed by the Provinces in municipalities with fewer than 40,000 inhabitants and by the larger municipalities, as part of heating installation checks.
5. Heat generator inspections and chimney cleaning
The regional page distinguishes heat generator inspection and maintenance intervals from chimney cleaning. It lists minimum intervals of four years up to 10 kW rated output, two years above 10 and up to 15 kW, and one year above 15 kW; any shorter intervals specified by the manufacturer or installer must be followed.
For chimney cleaning, the same page recommends at least one intervention a year or every four tonnes of biomass burned. This is a regional recommendation and must not be turned into a single deadline applicable to every appliance and territory.
6. Civil heating is distinct from professional cooking
DGR XII/3649 regulates biomass-fired heating installations for civil use. On its own, it does not establish the requirements applicable to a professional wood-fired oven, a charcoal grill or kitchen extraction. It is incorrect to transfer the 35 kW threshold or domestic classification automatically to these sources: identify the rules relating to the source, business, emissions, building and municipality.
The presence of a flue gas treatment system does not, by itself, determine which authorisations, discharge conditions or evacuation requirements apply. Assessment must start with the effluent and the actual installation use, distinguishing heat generator requirements from capture and treatment requirements.
7. Information to check
- The installation's region and municipality, including any temporary local measures.
- The type of heat generator and power rating shown in the documentation, distinguishing thermal input from other technical ratings.
- The certified environmental class and permitted fuel.
- Whether it is a new installation or replacement, and which fuel the previous installation used.
- Inspection reports, maintenance instructions and chimney documentation.
If any of this information is missing, the news report alone cannot establish whether an appliance may be used. Consult the relevant Region's updated page and check the installation's technical documentation.
Sources and interpretation
References consulted on 19 October 2026. The press article provided the starting point; dates, scope and requirements were checked against institutional sources. Main sources: Lombardy Region, correct use of biomass heat generators; DGR XII/3649 of 16 December 2024 and annex; Regional Decree no. 5817 of 23 April 2025; DGR XII/4720 of 14 July 2025 and annex; Lombardy Regional Law no. 24/2006, Article 27; D.M. 186/2017, Gazzetta Ufficiale. The Idealista article of 16 October 2026 is cited as the journalistic starting point, not as a legal source.