Woodburning fireplace is a work item
Bloomington’s residential building permit application lists Woodburning Fireplace as a checkbox work item and says HVAC and other trade work need separate permits.
Local details
Wood stove installation in Bloomington, Minnesota
Hennepin County / south Twin Cities suburbs. 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 Bloomington.
Owner-occupants can pull permits
Bloomington says homeowners living in the home may apply for any permit; owners who don’t live there must hire a licensed building contractor.
Local detailsBackyard fires end at midnight
Bloomington allows recreational fires from 7 a.m. to midnight, only when winds are below 10 mph and 25 feet from structures.
Local detailsThe coldest month here, January, has a 1991–2020 normal of 16.2°F at the MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL AP, MN 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 Bloomington.
Compare installation providers and nearby showrooms. Check service coverage and assessment fees directly, or request help finding an installer.
- I
2nd Generation Chimneys, Inc.
Chimney service & installation · Based at 18730 Buchanan St. NE, East Bethel; has a Bloomington service-area pageIts Bloomington page lists wood stove and wood insert services under fireplace installation, and its wood stove page describes installing stoves along with chimney liners and venting. The company is based in East Bethel, on the far side of the metro, so ask about scheduling and whether it will file Bloomington’s permit.
View business & contact details2nd Generation Chimneys: BloomingtonWebsite reviewed Sep 29, 2026 · Not contacted by FireplaceLab - II
London Chimney Services
Chimney service & installation · 6500 Glenwood Ave., Golden Valley; its Bloomington page lists ZIP codes 55420, 55425, 55431, 55435, 55437 and 55438Its Bloomington page says it offers premium wood and gas inserts and handles the entire installation process, and states its technicians hold CSIA certification. The page does not mention freestanding wood stoves, so confirm whether it installs stoves or only inserts, and who applies for the Bloomington permit.
View business & contact detailsWebsite reviewed Sep 29, 2026 · Not contacted by FireplaceLab - III
Twin City Fireplace
Sales & installation · Edina showroom at 6521 Cecilia Circle, which its Bloomington page says is about ten minutes north of BloomingtonIts wood-burning insert page covers sales, installation and repair of wood inserts and names Bloomington among the communities it serves. Its showrooms page says it installs wood stoves, fireplaces and inserts. Ask whether its own crew does the install and which Bloomington permit it will file.
View business & contact detailsTwin City Fireplace: BloomingtonWebsite 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 Bloomington.
Bloomington Building and Inspections handles the permit.
Inside Bloomington city limits, permits come from the city’s Building and Inspections division at 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road, not Hennepin County. Its residential building permit application lists Woodburning Fireplace as a work item alongside basement finishes and additions, and states that projects involving HVAC, plumbing, electrical and fire need separate trade permits. The form lets a licensed contractor or a homesteaded homeowner apply. The posted form is dated 12/17, and the city does not publish wood stove requirements online, so call 952-563-8930 or email inspections@BloomingtonMN.gov to confirm whether your stove or insert is filed as a building permit, a mechanical permit, or both.
Bloomington residential building permit application (PDF)Backyard fires: 7 a.m. to midnight, light wind only.
Bloomington allows backyard recreational fires only between 7 a.m. and midnight and when winds are below 10 mph. Stacked wood can be no larger than 3 feet across and 2 feet high, at least 25 feet from structures, fences and trash containers. Only clean, dry firewood or charcoal may be burned; treated wood, leaves and wet or rotten wood are not allowed. The city asks residents to keep smoke from drifting onto neighboring property. These rules cover outdoor fires, not an indoor stove.
Bloomington: Know the code, recreational firesDoing it yourself? You must live there.
Bloomington’s building FAQ says a homeowner who is homesteading, meaning living in the home, may apply for any permit and do the work. If you own the house but do not live in it, such as a rental, the city says you must hire a licensed building contractor for work that needs a permit. Settle who holds the permit before the stove is ordered.
Bloomington building FAQApply online; paper forms are retired.
Bloomington says it no longer accepts paper building permit applications and takes them through its online Permit Portal. Its fee page lists HVAC permits at 1.5% of job valuation plus a state surcharge, with a $65 residential minimum, and says applications without a named contractor pay the plan review portion up front. Staff at 952-563-8930 can walk applicants through the portal.
Bloomington permit information and feesThis 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 Bloomington.
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 Bloomington-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 Bloomington.
U.S. planning ranges to prepare for a Bloomington quote. They are national estimates, not measured Bloomington 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 Bloomington installer.
- Will you file this under Bloomington’s Woodburning Fireplace work item, a separate HVAC permit, or both?
- Will you apply through Bloomington’s Permit Portal as the named contractor, and is the permit fee in your quote?
- Is the stove or insert EPA-certified to the 2020 standard the MPCA says applies to new appliances sold in Minnesota?
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 Bloomington 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
Bloomington wood stove installation FAQs.
Who issues the permit in Bloomington?
Bloomington’s own Building and Inspections division at 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road (952-563-8930). Its residential building permit application includes a Woodburning Fireplace work item and says trade work such as HVAC needs separate permits. Applications go through the city’s online Permit Portal; paper forms are no longer accepted.
Can I install a stove myself in a Bloomington rental I own?
Not under your own permit. Bloomington’s FAQ says owners who homestead, meaning live in the home, may apply for any permit and do the work, but owners who do not live in the home must hire a licensed building contractor. If you live there and do it yourself, you take responsibility for the work and its inspections.
When can I have a backyard fire in Bloomington?
Between 7 a.m. and midnight, when winds are below 10 mph. The fire must be no larger than 3 feet across and 2 feet high, 25 feet from structures and combustibles, and watched by an adult with a hose, shovel or extinguisher nearby. Only clean, dry firewood or charcoal is allowed. These rules do not cover an indoor stove.
What FireplaceLab does
Explore your options. Then get a quote for your home.
- I
Answer two simple questions
Tell us what’s there now and what you want from wood heat. No contact details needed.
- II
See options and rough costs
Explore a suitable starting point and national installed cost ranges.
- III
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.
Explore options & pricing