Coal and wood boilers in Poland: 2026-2028 anti-smog deadlines
Short answer: In Małopolska, class 3 and 4 coal and wood boilers may be used until 31 December 2026. Other regions have 2027-2032 deadlines. Fines are up to 500 zł on the spot, per the Małopolska office.
The heating season is starting, and in parts of Poland the rules on coal and wood boilers are about to get stricter. In Małopolska, the region around Kraków, boilers of class 3 and 4 may be used only until 31 December 2026. Other regions have other deadlines. If you rent a house, own a home with a solid-fuel boiler, or are about to buy one, it is worth checking which rule applies to your address. This guide summarises the regional anti-smog resolutions as of 14 October 2026, based on the Małopolska authorities' information and a regional comparison table published on that date. It is general information. The local resolution and your municipality have the final word.
What the rules are about
Each region (voivodeship) in Poland sets its own anti-smog resolution (uchwała antysmogowa) that limits which boilers and fuels people can use at home. The rules cover boilers that burn coal or wood. The boiler class refers to the emission standard PN-EN 303-5:2012. You can find the class on the boiler's rating plate or in its documentation.
Małopolska: the 31 December 2026 deadline
According to the municipality of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, which quotes the resolution of the Małopolska regional assembly of 23 January 2017:
- Boilers with no class ("kopciuchy") had to be replaced by 30 April 2024.
- Class 3 and 4 solid-fuel boilers can be used until 31 December 2026. From 1 January 2027, using them in the Małopolska region is not allowed.
- Class 5 boilers installed before the resolution came into force can be used until the end of their life.
The comparison table published by InstalacjeBudowlane.net on 14 October 2026 adds that the class 5 exception applies to boilers installed before 1 July 2017, and that Kraków is outside this table because it has its own, stricter rule: a full ban on burning coal and wood in boilers, stoves and fireplaces, in force since 1 September 2019.
* Photos: stove and radiator, Wikimedia Commons, CC0 / public domain.
Penalties
According to the same article, which cites the Małopolska Marshal's Office, using a boiler in breach of the resolution can lead to a fine of up to 500 zł on the spot, and an inspector can send a request to a court for a fine of up to 5,000 zł. The penalty can be imposed for each repeated case. The resolution also covers fuel: from 1 July 2017 it is not allowed to burn sludge, flotation concentrates or coal dust, and wood must not have a moisture content above 20%.
Other regions: when the ban on class 3 and 4 starts
The table shows these dates for the ban on class 3 and 4 boilers (the boiler may work until the day before):
- From 1 January 2027: Małopolska (outside Kraków), Lubelskie and Lubuskie.
- From 1 January 2028: Łódzkie, Mazowieckie, Śląskie, Wielkopolskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Podkarpackie and Zachodniopomorskie.
- From 1 July 2028: Dolnośląskie (outside Wrocław and spa towns).
- From 1 January 2032: Opolskie, for boilers that do not meet class 5.
- Already in force: Pomorskie (from 1 September 2026, outside Sopot) and Świętokrzyskie (from 1 July 2024).
- No anti-smog resolution: Podlaskie and Warmińsko-Mazurskie, as of early October 2026.
The table does not include city resolutions with separate rules, such as Kraków, Wrocław and Sopot. It also leaves out exceptions for buildings with access to a heating network or gas, and any change made after 14 October 2026. In Lubuskie the table says that from 1 January 2027 only class 5 boilers are allowed.
What it means if you rent
Whether the boiler is a problem for a tenant depends on who owns it and how the contract is written. The sources we used do not say who is responsible, so check the lease and ask the landlord in writing which boiler the house has and its class. If the house uses a class 3 or 4 boiler in Małopolska, ask what the plan is before winter 2026/27 is over.
If you own the property, the Kalwaria Zebrzydowska notice advises not to leave replacement to the last moment and to check what funding exists for it. It does not list the programmes, so ask your municipality.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know my boiler's class?
Look at the rating plate or the boiler's documentation. The class refers to the PN-EN 303-5:2012 standard.
Until when can I use a class 3 or 4 boiler in Małopolska?
Until 31 December 2026, outside Kraków. In Kraków a ban on burning coal and wood has applied since 1 September 2019.
What is the penalty?
According to the Małopolska Marshal's Office, up to 500 zł as a fine on the spot, and up to 5,000 zł if a court imposes a fine. The penalty can be repeated.
Are there regions without these rules?
As of early October 2026 the table lists no anti-smog resolution in Podlaskie and Warmińsko-Mazurskie.
