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We try to reduce the levels of pollution by enforcing legislation around:
We have identified four areas of poor ambient air quality across the city. These are called Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) and they have elevated levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution, caused mainly by road transport.
These AQMAs are located along:
We have worked with a number of partner organisations to develop a new five-year Air Quality Action Plan for Belfast which will address the few remaining nitrogen dioxide hotspots within our AQMAs and improve ambient air quality generally. Our plan will support a shift towards more sustainable forms of transport, lower levels of air pollution and achieve the air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide.
It includes different air quality and transport planning initiatives, such as:
Read the Air Quality Action Plan for 2021-2026
To help improve ambient air quality, watch our video for some useful hints and tips.
This video is 60 seconds long.
For information on noise pollution, visit the noise control section.
The land use planning system can positively contribute to the improvement of air quality.
To ensure the development of Belfast does not adversely impact upon air quality across the city, we may, as a part of the planning process, ask that developers carry out an Air Quality Impact Assessment (AQIA).
In determining whether a new development requires an AQIA, we will refer to best practice guidance such as Environmental Protection UK and the Institute of Air Quality Management (link opens in new window), Land-use Planning & Development Control: Planning For Air Quality (January 2017)
You can read a complete guide to the planning application process, including guidance on the air quality information that you may need to submit as an aspect of a planning application. Read the planning application process guide.
We provide annual air quality status reports and monitoring data for Belfast to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). This information is available to view on the DAERA Northern Ireland Air website (link opens in new window).
You can also read our annual reports on the improving status of ambient air quality (link opens in new window) within the Belfast City Council area.
We can deal with excessive artificial light coming from poorly positioned security lights, garden lights, flood lighting from sports grounds or industrial lighting.
It does not cover:
If you are being disturbed by artificial lighting, there are two ways to address it.
Neighbours may not be aware that their external lighting is bothering you and may be happy to meet your requests or make a compromise. Choose a suitable time to discuss the problem and remember to be calm, polite and courteous and to avoid confrontation. You may also feel more comfortable bringing another person with you.
However, if you don't feel able to approach those responsible for the lighting, or have already tried and were unsuccessful, more direct action may be needed and you should contact us.
We'll make an assessment of the lighting. We may ask you to keep a diary recording the dates and times of each disturbance, or to allow our officers into your home to monitor the level of lighting.
If we agree that a nuisance exists or is likely to occur, we can serve the person responsible with an Abatement Notice, asking them to alter or reduce it.
If they don't comply with the notice, we can take the offender to court where they can be fined up to £5,000 (private premises) or up to £20,000 for commercial or industrial premises.
We can also undertake works to ensure compliance with the notice and recover any costs incurred from the person responsible.
Almost all of the Belfast City Council area is described as a smoke control zone. Smoke control zones were created to control the emissions of smoke from homes in the city.
The only parts of Belfast that aren't included are located in the rural periphery of the city, to the southwest, north and the docks area. This is because these areas are mostly either unpopulated or sparsely populated.
For information on exempt appliances and authorised fuels that can be used in Belfast's smoke control zone, go to:
There’s more information about smoke control areas on the GOV.UK website (link opens in new window)
Under The Clean Air (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 Article 17(2), any person who is found guilty of an offence shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine up to and not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (currently £1000).
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