If you want to build a new home in Del Mar, California, don’t even think about installing a wood-burning fireplace. The city council recently voted to make sure new homes cannot include them and homes remodeled over 50 percent must replace them as well. 

The council voted 4-1 on preparing an ordinance to make wood-burning fireplaces in new residential construction illegal and then voted 3-2 to require homeowners to convert them to gas if they remodel more than half their home. 

Del Mar homeowners with existing wood-burning fireplaces or stoves don’t need to take any action unless they fall into the remodeling category. 

The ban is specific to residential construction as to avoid any confusion with restaurants that use smokers or wood-burning ovens. 

According to The Coast News, Del Mar resident Rich Ehrenfeld pushed for the change, telling the council that while gas might not be ideal, it’s a better solution that burning wood.

“Gas is not great. It’s not the ultimate thing to burn gas. But it’s a whole lot better and the C02 that’s given off by burning gas in a fireplace is about half what the C02 that’s given up in a wood-burning fireplace.” 

Councilman Dwight Worden likened wood-burning fireplace output to other forms of dangerous smoke, telling The Coast News “what’s coming out of fireplaces is worse than cigarette smoking on the streets, which we don’t allow.” 

Dissenting council voters either wanted more discussion and research to be put into the decision or felt it was unfair to demand someone renovating their home to replace a wood fireplace if it isn’t part of that remodel.