City code names solid-fuel appliances
Rochester City Code §39-207 requires a building permit to install a solid-fuel-burning heating appliance, chimney or flue.
Local details
Wood stove installation in Rochester, New York
Monroe County / Greater Rochester. 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 Rochester.
Nine preservation districts need approval
Alterations to landmarks and properties in Rochester’s nine preservation districts need a Preservation Board Certificate of Appropriateness.
Local detailsShowrooms around the city
Felgemacher and Fireplace Fashions list Rochester mailing addresses; Big Ash’s showroom is in Holley, Orleans County.
Local detailsThe coldest month here, January, has a 1991–2020 normal of 26.2°F at the ROCHESTER GTR INTL AP, NY 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 Rochester.
Compare installation providers and nearby showrooms. Check service coverage and assessment fees directly, or request help finding an installer.
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Big Ash Fireplace & Stoves
Sales & installation · Holley showroom (3570 Fancher Road); lists Rochester and Monroe County among the areas it servesIts site lists wood stoves and wood inserts, chimney inspections and sweeping, liners and “Installations” as a service, and names Rochester in its service area. The installations page does not spell out wood-stove installs; confirm who installs, the drive from Holley, and who pulls the city permit.
View business & contact detailsBig Ash Rochester pageWebsite reviewed Sep 28, 2026 · Not contacted by FireplaceLab - II
Felgemacher Fireplace Shop
Sales & installation · Lists a showroom at 630 Trolley Blvd, Rochester 14606; serves the Greater Rochester areaIts Rochester stove page says it sells, installs and services wood-burning freestanding stoves and fireplace inserts in the Greater Rochester area, and names suburbs such as Greece, Irondequoit and Penfield. Ask whether the Trolley Blvd location is inside city limits and whether the quote covers the city permit and liner.
View business & contact detailsWebsite reviewed Sep 28, 2026 · Not contacted by FireplaceLab - III
Fireplace Fashions
Sales & installation · Showroom at 1936 Hudson Avenue, Rochester 14617; serves Monroe and surrounding countiesIts homepage lists woodburning stoves and inserts and says products are installed by certified technicians; its stoves page names Lopi and Quadra-Fire wood stoves. It does not say which certification. Ask who installs, whether the crew handles chimney liners, and who files the Rochester permit.
View business & contact detailsWebsite reviewed Sep 28, 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 Rochester.
Get a city building permit before installing.
Inside Rochester city limits, Chapter 39 of the City Code requires a building permit for work that must meet the Building Code or Energy Code, and it names the installation of a solid-fuel-burning heating appliance, chimney or flue specifically. No one may start that work before the permit is issued. Permits run through the Building Permits Office in the Department of Neighborhood and Business Development (585-428-6526). Ask whether a stove, an insert with a new liner, or a new factory-built chimney is one permit or several, and which inspections follow. Gates, Irondequoit, Greece and other towns around the city have their own building departments, so confirm your municipality first.
Rochester City Code §39-207 (eCode360)Check the preservation map before planning a new flue.
Rochester’s Preservation Board reviews Certificates of Appropriateness for alterations to landmarks and to properties in the city’s nine preservation districts, including Corn Hill, East Avenue, Mt. Hope Avenue, Susan B. Anthony and Cobb’s Hill. A new exterior chimney or a metal flue through a wall or roof changes what the building looks like from outside, so check your address before ordering a stove. Staff are at 30 Church St., Room 125B (585-428-6510); ask about hearing dates and application deadlines.
Rochester Preservation Board (RPB)Stoves have their own fee line.
Rochester’s building permit fee guide lists “wood-burning stove or fireplace insert” as its own miscellaneous work type, separate from the cost-of-work table used for most projects. The same page says license and permit fees changed effective July 1, 2026, so confirm the current amount with the Permit Office rather than relying on a figure in a quote or an older page.
Rochester building permit feesDon’t assume a stove swap is exempt.
Section 39-207’s exemption list includes listed portable heating appliances and replacement of equipment that does not alter the equipment’s listing. A wood stove connected to a chimney is not portable, and replacing an old stove can change clearances, the connector or the liner. Ask the Permit Office before treating a replacement as permit-free, and keep the new stove’s installation manual for the inspector.
Rochester City Code §39-207 (eCode360)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 Rochester.
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 Rochester-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 Rochester.
U.S. planning ranges to prepare for a Rochester quote. They are national estimates, not measured Rochester 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 Rochester installer.
- Will you pull the City of Rochester building permit for the stove, chimney or flue, and is that in the price?
- Is my house a landmark or in one of the nine preservation districts, and does the flue route need a Certificate of Appropriateness?
- Is your showroom address inside Rochester city limits, and have you permitted stove jobs with the city before?
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 Rochester 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
Rochester wood stove installation FAQs.
Does Rochester require a permit for a wood stove?
Yes, according to the City Code. Section 39-207 requires a building permit for installing a solid-fuel-burning heating appliance, chimney or flue, and says work may not begin before the permit is issued. Call the Building Permits Office at 585-428-6526 to confirm the permit type and inspections for your stove, insert or liner.
My house is on East Avenue. What changes?
East Avenue is one of Rochester’s nine preservation districts. Alterations there need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Preservation Board, so an exterior chimney, wall-vented flue or visible roof penetration should be discussed with preservation staff before you order equipment. An insert using an existing masonry chimney may raise fewer exterior questions, but ask.
Does a Rochester mailing address mean the city issues my permit?
Not always. Addresses in Gates, Irondequoit, Greece, Brighton and other towns often use Rochester ZIP codes, but those towns run their own building departments. The city’s code and Preservation Board apply only inside Rochester city limits. Confirm your municipality on your tax bill before applying or accepting a quote.
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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Explore a suitable starting point and national installed cost ranges.
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