Washington lawmakers want to regulate your fireplace—because you can’t be trusted to heat your own home
When in doubt, ban things. And when that doesn’t work, regulate them into oblivion.
Washington lawmakers are once again meddling in your daily life, this time targeting how you keep warm in the winter.
Senate Bill 5174, sponsored by Sens. Shewmake, Nobles, and Wellman, imposes strict new regulations on wood-burning fireplaces, limiting their use, requiring compliance with new emissions standards, and giving state agencies more authority to restrict or even ban their operation in certain areas.
Lawmakers claim this bill is about air quality, but in reality, it’s about limiting consumer choice, expanding government control, and punishing homeowners who rely on fireplaces for heat and comfort.
If SB 5174 passes, expect:
Stricter emissions regulations on wood-burning fireplaces, making many existing units illegal.
More government oversight, requiring homeowners to comply with new state-mandated standards.
Expanded burn bans, allowing the state to prohibit fireplace use more frequently and in more areas.
This bill isn’t about clean air—it’s about controlling how you live.
Why are they doing this?
Lawmakers claim Washington’s fireplace regulations aren’t strict enough and that EPA oversight isn’t working. Their argument:
Wood-burning fireplaces contribute to air pollution.
Current regulations don’t meet Washington’s new environmental goals.
They want to limit fireplace use in certain areas to reduce emissions.
Instead of addressing real energy concerns, they’ve decided to crack down on one of the most affordable and reliable ways to heat a home.
What SB 5174 does
SB 5174 dramatically expands government control over wood-burning fireplaces. It does this by:
Banning the installation of certain fireplaces in new or existing buildings unless they meet strict new emissions standards.
Requiring homeowners to comply with updated state regulations that go beyond federal EPA standards.
Allowing the Department of Ecology to impose additional restrictions on fireplace sales, use, and operation.
Expanding burn ban authority, making it easier for state agencies to prohibit fireplace use for extended periods.
In short, this bill strips homeowners of autonomy, adds unnecessary red tape, and limits heating choices—all while ignoring Washington’s real energy affordability issues.
Who benefits? Not homeowners.
Bureaucrats who want more control over how people heat their homes.
Environmental lobbyists who push extreme regulations over practical energy solutions.
Big manufacturers that can afford to meet expensive new compliance measures while smaller businesses struggle.
Who doesn’t benefit?
Homeowners in rural and lower-income areas who rely on fireplaces for heat.
Anyone who prefers to avoid high electricity and gas bills in the winter.
Families that use fireplaces during power outages or for supplemental heating.
This bill isn’t about helping people—it’s about controlling them.
Washington’s war on home heating
SB 5174 fits into a broader pattern of Washington’s aggressive push against affordable energy.
First, they raised gas prices.
Then, they restricted natural gas in new buildings.
Now, they’re coming for your wood-burning fireplace.
Washington lawmakers are systematically removing affordable heating options, making residents more dependent on expensive electricity and government-approved energy sources.
If they were serious about clean air, they’d be investing in better forest management to reduce wildfires, which produce far more emissions than residential fireplaces ever could.
What’s next?
If SB 5174 passes, expect:
Fewer choices for home heating.
More government oversight and red tape.
More frequent and widespread burn bans.
Meanwhile, energy costs will continue to skyrocket and Washingtonians will have fewer reliable ways to stay warm in the winter.
What can you do?
Call your legislators. Tell them no to SB 5174 and yes to protecting home heating freedom.
Demand less government interference. The state should focus on real energy solutions, not punishing homeowners.
Washington lawmakers are coming for your fireplace.
Contact them and tell them to focus on solving real problems instead of fighting fake fires.