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; 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 fireplace inspections, fireplace notifications, 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 are complying with their obligations on time.

A state fee schedule applies to these tasks (see legal basis, Annex 3 to Section 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 activities 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(s) responsible for you.