Metal chimneys can get staff approval
In historic districts, a new metal chimney that is dark or matches the roof and meets minimum code height can be approved by staff.
Local details
Wood stove installation in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Washtenaw County. 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 Ann Arbor.
Rental fireplaces need five-year checks
Ann Arbor’s rental inspection checklist says a wood-burning fireplace must be inspected every 5 years or its firebox opening sealed.
Local detailsFee schedule lists liners separately
The city’s mechanical fee schedule lists chimney liners, factory-built fireplaces and heating appliances as separate line items.
Local detailsThe coldest month here, January, has a 1991–2020 normal of 24.0°F at the ANN ARBOR SE, MI 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 Ann Arbor.
Compare installation providers and nearby showrooms. Check service coverage and assessment fees directly, or request help finding an installer.
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Alpha & Omega Services
Sales & installation · Offices in Williamston, Garden City and Holly; homepage names Ann Arbor among areas servedLists freestanding wood stoves and wood inserts, including Regency and Buck Stove models, alongside gas products, and names Ann Arbor among the communities it serves. Its offices are outside Washtenaw County, so ask which office would handle the job, whether its own crew installs, and who files the STREAM mechanical permit.
View business & contact detailsAlpha & Omega ServicesWebsite reviewed Sep 29, 2026 · Not contacted by FireplaceLab - II
Brown Chimney
Chimney service & installation · 455 E. Eisenhower Pkwy, Ann Arbor; says it installs throughout Washtenaw County and in Brighton and NorthvilleIts Ann Arbor installation page lists wood inserts, gas inserts and pellet stoves and says it installs throughout Washtenaw County. It describes a CSIA-certified crew. The page centers on inserts, so ask whether it also installs freestanding wood stoves and whether a liner is included in the quote.
View business & contact detailsWebsite reviewed Sep 29, 2026 · Not contacted by FireplaceLab - III
Doctor Flue
Chimney service & installation · Ann Arbor service page; no street address given thereIts Ann Arbor page says it has serviced new and historic homes in Ann Arbor for nearly 30 years and lists wood stoves and wood inserts among its products. Its installation page says its sweeps are CSIA and NFI certified. Ask where the crew is based and whether historic-district approval is part of its process.
View business & contact detailsDoctor Flue fireplace installationWebsite reviewed Sep 29, 2026 · Not contacted by FireplaceLab - IV
The Grate Haus
Sales & installation · Jackson showroom (2418 W. Michigan Ave.); Ann Arbor page says it serves Ann Arbor and surrounding areasIts Ann Arbor page lists freestanding stoves and high-efficiency inserts, names wood brands such as Hearthstone, Jotul and Quadra-Fire, and says ‘if we sell it, we install it.’ The showroom is in Jackson, west of Ann Arbor, so ask about travel charges and who pulls the Ann Arbor permit.
View business & contact detailsWebsite reviewed Sep 29, 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 Ann Arbor.
Apply for a mechanical permit through STREAM.
Inside Ann Arbor, the Building & Rental Services unit at City Hall (301 E. Huron St.) handles building and trade permits, and the city says all applications go through its online portal, stream.a2gov.org. Mechanical is one of the trade permits, and the city says trade permit review usually takes two to three business days. Its mechanical fee schedule lists chimney liners, factory-built fireplaces and heating appliances as separate items, but that schedule is marked effective July 1, 2017, so confirm current categories and fees. The city says homeowners can apply for a permit themselves. Ask building@a2gov.org or 734.794.6263 which items a stove, insert or liner needs. Ann Arbor Township and Pittsfield Township are separate jurisdictions.
City of Ann Arbor permitsIn a historic district, the chimney needs a certificate.
Ann Arbor says all exterior work in its historic districts needs an approved Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic District Commission. The commission’s staff approval list lets staff approve a new metal chimney that does not damage original trim, is a dark color or matches the roof, is no taller or wider than state code requires, and is not a prominent roof feature. Anything else goes to the full commission. Staff approvals are requested in STREAM, and the city lists a $35 staff review fee.
Ann Arbor HDC staff approval list (amended 06-11-26, PDF)Renting it out? Plan for fireplace inspections.
Ann Arbor’s rental housing pre-inspection checklist, under Chapter 105 of the housing code, says a wood-burning fireplace must be inspected every 5 years or the firebox front opening must be sealed from use. The same checklist asks for a chimney cap, brick and flashing in good condition and working carbon monoxide alarms on each level. If you rent out a house with a stove or fireplace, ask Rental Housing Services how a wood stove is treated.
Ann Arbor rental pre-inspection checklist (PDF)Historic district list covers 14 districts.
Ann Arbor’s Historic District Commission page links maps for 14 districts, including Old West Side, Old Fourth Ward, Division Street, Washtenaw/Hill and Main Street. The city’s FAQ says the commission reviews all exterior work, wherever it sits on the building, while ordinary maintenance is exempt. Check the maps before you plan a new chimney, roof or wall penetration, or chimney cap.
Ann Arbor Historic District CommissionThis 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 Ann Arbor.
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 Ann Arbor-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 Ann Arbor.
U.S. planning ranges to prepare for a Ann Arbor quote. They are national estimates, not measured Ann Arbor 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 Ann Arbor installer.
- Will you file the mechanical permit in STREAM, and which items (stove, liner, chimney) will it list?
- If my house is in one of Ann Arbor’s historic districts, will the chimney meet the staff-approval criteria, or will it need full commission review?
- If this is a rental, will your paperwork help with the five-year fireplace inspection the rental checklist asks for?
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 Ann Arbor 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
Ann Arbor wood stove installation FAQs.
Can a new metal chimney go on a house in an Ann Arbor historic district?
Often, with approval. The Historic District Commission lets staff approve a new metal chimney that does not damage original trim, is a dark color or matches the roof, is no taller or wider than state code requires, and is not a prominent roof feature. Other chimney designs go to the full commission. Request staff approval in STREAM before exterior work starts.
I rent out a house in Ann Arbor. Does a wood fireplace affect the rental inspection?
Yes. The city’s rental pre-inspection checklist says a wood-burning fireplace must be inspected every 5 years or its firebox opening sealed from use, and it checks chimney caps, flashing and carbon monoxide alarms. Ask Rental Housing Services at 734.794.6264 how it treats a freestanding wood stove.
Where do I apply for the permit?
Ann Arbor takes permit applications through its online portal, stream.a2gov.org, and the city says homeowners can apply themselves. Mechanical is one of the trade permits. If you live in Ann Arbor Township, Pittsfield Township or Scio Township, you are outside city limits and need to check with that township instead.
What FireplaceLab does
Explore your options. Then get a quote for your home.
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Tell us what’s there now and what you want from wood heat. No contact details needed.
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Explore a suitable starting point and national installed cost ranges.
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