Every permit is filed online
Gloucester’s Building Inspector page says all building permits must be submitted through the city’s Online Permitting Center.
Local details
Wood stove installation in Gloucester, Massachusetts
Essex County / Cape Ann. Heat your home, even when the power goes out: the permit, the local rules, and who installs here.
Free to request · No obligation to hireBefore you install in Gloucester.
$50 to apply, $60 minimum
The city charges $50 to submit an application plus $10 per thousand of construction cost, with a minimum fee of $60.
Local detailsOne local historic district
Central Gloucester, designated in 1977, is the city’s only local historic district; visible exterior changes there, chimneys included, need a certificate.
Local detailsThe coldest month here, January, has a 1991–2020 normal of 27.2°F at the BEVERLY, MA station. One station is a planning reference, not a reading for every address. NOAA station normals
Local businesses to contact directly
Wood stove installers in Gloucester.
Compare installation providers and nearby showrooms. Check service coverage and assessment fees directly, or request help finding an installer.
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Affordable Chimney Sweeps
Sales & installation · North Andover-based; homepage service list names Gloucester and Essex CountyIts homepage says it sells, installs and maintains all types of wood, pellet, gas and electric stoves and inserts. Gloucester and Essex County are both on its service list, next to Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea. Ask whether it will file the Gloucester permit online and, in Central Gloucester, who applies to the Historic District Commission.
View business & contact detailsWebsite reviewed Oct 24, 2026 · Not contacted by FireplaceLab - II
Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep
Sales & installation · 707 Turnpike St, North Andover; North Shore service-area list names GloucesterIts wood-burning page says it handles everything from sales and installation to service and cleaning, and names Regency and Hampton models. Gloucester is on its North Shore list; Rockport is not. The office is in North Andover, so ask about scheduling on Cape Ann and who books the city inspection.
View business & contact detailsBilly Sweet: North Shore service areaWebsite reviewed Oct 24, 2026 · Not contacted by FireplaceLab - III
Sam & Ivan The Chimney Guys
Chimney service & installation · Serves Essex County; serving-area list names Gloucester, MAIts wood stove page offers cleaning and installation and says proper installation covers clearances, venting and local building codes. Gloucester, MA is on its serving-area list, which also names Essex County. No street address appeared on the pages read, so ask where crews are based and who files the online permit.
View business & contact detailsSam & Ivan: serving areaWebsite reviewed Oct 24, 2026 · Not contacted by FireplaceLab
Unpaid listings, shown alphabetically. Website research is not contractor vetting or confirmation of a partnership. Confirm qualifications and insurance before hiring.
Details your installer can help confirm
Wood stove permits in Gloucester.
Apply online to Inspectional Services at 3 Pond Road.
Inside Gloucester, building permits come from the Inspectional Services / Building Department at 3 Pond Road (978-325-5210), led by the Building Commissioner. The Building Inspector page says all building permits must be submitted online through the city’s Online Permitting Center, which lists building, short-form building, mechanical and sheet metal permits. Inspectors are in the office only 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Monday to Friday and 1 to 2 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and the city suggests calling first if you are travelling far. Inspections are by appointment with your permit number. The page doesn’t name wood stoves, so ask which permit type a stove or liner uses.
City of Gloucester: Building InspectorCentral Gloucester: a new chimney or pipe needs review.
The Historical Commission’s listings say Central Gloucester (Harbor Village), designated in 1977 with 84 historic resources, is the city’s only local historic district. There, the Historic District Commission reviews exterior work visible from a public way, and its certificate application lists chimneys among the elements to describe, with two copies of plans and a certified abutters list. Rocky Neck and East Gloucester Square are National Register districts, which the same document says do not limit private owners’ work. Check the commission’s map before planning an exterior flue.
Gloucester Historical Commission: Historic Listings and Designations (PDF)Paying online adds a surcharge.
Gloucester’s Online Permitting page says paying a permit fee online by credit card adds 2.99% plus $0.99, and an electronic check adds a flat $5.50. You can apply online and then pay in person during the department’s office hours instead. On top of the $50 application fee and $10 per thousand of cost, that surcharge is small, but ask your installer who pays it.
City of Gloucester: Online PermittingWhat the historic district application asks for.
The Historic District Commission’s application, filed under Chapter 40C and the Gloucester Historic District Ordinance, covers exterior work visible from a public way. It asks you to list affected elements, chimneys and utilities among them, with existing and proposed materials, and to attach a location map, a scaled site plan, elevations and a certified abutters list. Applying for non-applicability is an option when the work cannot be seen.
Gloucester Historic District Commission: Application for Certification (PDF)This is a planning guide, not a permit determination. The local authority and your installer must confirm current requirements for your property and appliance. We have not verified project-specific approvals or fees.
Choose the right project
Wood stoves and fireplace inserts in Gloucester.
INew stove or replacement
Install a wood-burning stove.
An enclosed stove with a chimney system designed for your home. An installer assesses placement, venting, and the space you want to heat.
About wood stoves
IIExisting fireplace
Explore a fireplace insert.
Use a suitable existing fireplace as the starting point. Have the opening, chimney, and liner assessed for the proposed insert.
About insertsCan you install a wood stove without a chimney?
A new wood stove can sometimes be installed with a new chimney system. Ask a Gloucester-area provider to assess a suitable route and quote the complete job. Installation without an existing chimney
Want heat during a power outage?
Many cordwood stoves provide heat without electricity. Ask about your exact model, any powered blower, and the rooms it can heat. Read the power-outage heating guide
Room photographs illustrate project starting points; they are not installations completed through FireplaceLab.
Wood stove installation costs in Gloucester.
U.S. planning ranges to prepare for a Gloucester quote. They are national estimates, not measured Gloucester averages or offers from listed businesses.
Freestanding wood stove$2,500–$7,500
Wood-burning insert$3,000–$8,000+
New installation, no chimney$5,500–$9,000+
Unit and typical installation ranges from HomeGuide’s national cost guide, reviewed Sep 28, 2026. These are alternative project scenarios, not amounts to add together. Repairs, access, venting, permits, and premium models can move costs higher.
What to ask a Gloucester installer.
- Will you file the Gloucester permit through the Online Permitting Center, and which permit type will you use?
- If my house is in Central Gloucester, will you prepare the chimney or pipe details for the Historic District Commission?
- Who pays any online payment surcharge, and who books the inspection?
Compare quotes on the same scope.
Request separate details for the appliance, chimney or liner, hearth work, labor, removal, permits, inspections, and exclusions. Confirm any paid assessment before booking.
Will you save on heating?
There is no reliable single savings figure for every Gloucester home. Compare your current heating cost with delivered dry wood, appliance efficiency, how much heat you will replace, maintenance, and the upfront installation. Backup comfort and financial payback are separate decisions. Compare all heating options
Gloucester wood stove installation FAQs.
How do I get a wood stove permit in Gloucester?
Apply online. The Building Inspector page says all building permits go through the city’s Online Permitting Center. The fee is $50 to submit plus $10 per thousand of construction cost, with a $60 minimum. Inspectors answer questions in short office windows, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. weekdays and 1 to 2 p.m. Monday to Thursday, at 3 Pond Road.
Does a historic district affect my stove?
Only if you live in Central Gloucester, the city’s one local historic district, designated in 1977. There, visible exterior work, including a chimney, needs a certificate from the Historic District Commission. Rocky Neck and East Gloucester Square are National Register districts, which the Historical Commission says do not limit owners’ private work.
How cold does it get here?
The nearest station with 1991–2020 normals, in Beverly, about 8 miles away, averages 27.2°F in January. That makes outage heat worth planning for. A stove can keep one or two rooms usable without power, but it is not whole-home heat, and the city expects a permit and inspection before use.
What FireplaceLab does
Explore your options. Then get a quote for your home.
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Answer two simple questions
Tell us what’s there now and what you want from wood heat. No contact details needed.
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See options and rough costs
Explore a suitable starting point and national installed cost ranges.
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Request a local quote
When you’re ready, share your home details. We’ll look for an installer to assess the job and quote the work.
FireplaceLab is an installer-matching service. Your installer handles the assessment, quote, and installation. A request does not book work or guarantee a match.
Get a plan and a price for your home.
Tell us where you live and what you want to install. We’ll look for a local professional to assess the work.
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