Environmental concerns have been raised over the sub-standard use of wood burning stoves.
Due to rising energy prices, local residents have reportedly been lighting fires and using stoves as a cheaper alternative to heat their homes.
But poorly fitted stoves or burning damp wood can have a negative impact on air quality.
As a local authority, Perth and Kinross Council has a duty to monitor the air quality in the area. An environmental health technician provided an update on the area's air quality to a meeting of PKC's Climate Change and Sustainability Committee on Wednesday, February 15.
The committee was told the council's Environmental Health team often received complaints about wood burning stoves.
Environmental Health technician (Air Quality) Oliver Law said: "With energy prices rising, many have chosen to install stoves within their homes as a cheaper energy alternative. But poor installation, maintenance and operation of stoves can lead to high levels of particulates being emitted - even from more modern stoves. Add to this the use of poor quality or damp fuel in a stove can be a real public health problem both to the neighbours and to the stove users themselves.
"Environmental Health often receive complaints about neighbouring fires and stoves but unfortunately we don't have many powers to deal with this.
"It's a national issue that the Scottish Government is aware of and they're working to update legislation for smoke control areas which will hopefully give us more power over what's being burnt in Perth and Kinross.
"Until then, our best route of action is addressing the issues a stove may cause before it's installed through the planning process.
"Planning permission is required for any flue which is installed within an air quality management area. But even if we see a stove on an application outwith an air quality management area, it's something we'll comment on. We aim to make sure all new stoves have a flue which is high enough that they won't result in any smoke nuisance for nearby neighbours."
Perth and Kinross has two air quality management areas - in Perth and Crieff. As a result, not all stoves require planning permission in Perth and Kinross so the officer said some do "slip through the net".
Cllr Angus Forbes - who himself owns wood burning stoves - asked if a stove which has been fitted correctly, properly maintained and dried seasoned wood used was a problem. Mr Law confirmed there was not the same issue when used properly.
The Conservative councillor said: "I think because of the cost of living crisis people will choose to install stoves and burn wood rather than turning their heating on and that's an area of conflict I suspect we'll be talking about for some time to come."
SNP council leader Grant Laing pointed the finger of blame at energy companies cashing in on "ridiculous profits" while residents struggle to afford to heat their homes.
The Strathtay councillor said: "People are looking for cheaper options - pallets, etc to burn which you can easily get but they are impregnated with various chemicals.
"Until we tackle the ridiculous cost of heating and energy associated with - in my view - ridiculous profits of the companies providing energy then we will not change this as it's the only option people have to actually keep themselves warm."
