Chimney sweeping; information

With the new regulation of the chimney sweep system in 2008, the chimney sweep law in Germany was made compliant with the European legal requirements for freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services. Only a limited sovereign area remains, and chimney sweeping work has been opened up to competition:

Authorized district chimney sweeps (formerly "master district chimney sweeps") are reserved for the sovereign tasks of inspecting fireplaces, issuing fireplaces notices, event-related inspections, building inspections and substitute inspections; they are appointed to a district for seven years on the basis of a call for tenders. In addition, they are responsible for keeping the sweep book for this district and checking that owners comply with their obligations within the prescribed period.

A state fee schedule applies to these tasks (see legal basis, Annex 3 to § 6 of the Sweeping and Inspection Regulations - KÜO).

The non-sovereign tasks - "free" chimney sweeping work - can be carried out by any company that is authorized to carry out chimney sweeping work in Germany under trade law. The (free) chimney sweeping work to be carried out before the next fireplace inspection is listed in the fireplace notice. House and apartment owners must arrange for this work to be carried out themselves. If the authorized district chimney sweep is not commissioned, proof of completion must be provided by means of a form (see related topics: "Chimney sweeping work; notification if not commissioned").

The prices for this competitive chimney sweeping work are freely negotiable.

Further information can be obtained from the district administrative authority, which can also name the authorized district chimney sweep responsible for you.

Click on the "Chimney sweep search - districts of authorized district chimney sweeps" button above to access the Bavarian Atlas.

After clicking on the map, the responsible district chimney sweep is displayed under the selected location in the property information.

• Law on professional law and the provision of services in the chimney sweep trade (Chimney Sweep Trade Act - SchfHwG)
• Bavarian Building Regulations (BayBO)
• Ordinance on the Prevention of Fires (VVB)
• Annex 3 Ordinance on the Sweeping and Inspection of Installations (Sweeping and Inspection Ordinance - KÜO)
• First Ordinance on the Implementation of the Federal Immission Control Act (Ordinance on Small and Medium-Sized Combustion Plants - 1 BImSchV)

• Chimney sweeping work; notification if not required