Fireplaces are permit work
Madison’s permit table answers “Yes” for fireplace projects and routes them to Building Inspection.
Local details
Wood stove installation in Madison, Wisconsin
Dane 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 Madison.
Outdoor fires stop on poor-air days
The fire department bars outdoor fireplaces and pits when DNR air quality is anything other than good or moderate.
Local detailsThree hearth dealers nearby
Fireside, United Brick & Fireplace, and Hansen & Sons list Madison-area showrooms or addresses.
Local detailsThe coldest month here, January, has a 1991–2020 normal of 19.4°F at the UW ARBORETUM - MADISON, WI 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 Madison.
Compare installation providers and nearby showrooms. Check service coverage and assessment fees directly, or request help finding an installer.
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Fireside Hearth & Home
Sales & installation · 6709 Watts Rd., MadisonIts Madison location page lists wood-burning stoves and inserts among its showroom products and says it offers professional installation, with technicians handling venting and setup. Fireside operates several locations; this listing refers to the Watts Road store. Confirm lead times and whether installation includes the city permit.
View business & contact detailsWebsite reviewed Sep 28, 2026 · Not contacted by FireplaceLab - II
Hansen & Sons Chimney & Fireplace
Sales & installation · Lists Monona and Madison (53716) addressesSays it sells wood fireplaces, wood fireplace inserts, and wood stoves, and invites customers to ask what an installation service involves. It also offers chimney services. Its new-fireplace page emphasizes wood-to-gas conversions, so say clearly that you want wood heat, and confirm who performs the installation and permit.
View business & contact detailsNew fireplaces, inserts and stovesWebsite reviewed Sep 28, 2026 · Not contacted by FireplaceLab - III
United Brick & Fireplace
Sales & installation · Madison; mentions two Madison showroomsSays it has installed fireplaces and stoves in the Madison area since 1973 and has an in-house team that installs gas, electric, and wood stoves or inserts. It mentions two Madison showrooms. Ask which showroom displays wood-burning models and whether the quote covers chimney or liner work.
View business & contact detailsUnited Brick & Fireplace home pageWebsite 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 Madison.
Ask Building Inspection about the fireplace permit.
The City of Madison’s Development Services Center permit table marks fireplace projects as requiring a permit and lists Building Inspection (608-266-4551, ext. 2) as the contact; furnace installation is listed the same way. The table does not name wood stoves or inserts separately, so describe the appliance, chimney or liner, and any structural work when you ask which permit applies. Surrounding towns and villages in Dane County may have a different permitting authority, so confirm the jurisdiction for your address before you apply.
City of Madison permit requirements tableOutdoor burning follows the air-quality index.
The Madison Fire Department summarizes Madison General Ordinance 34.307: outdoor fireplaces and pits may burn only clean, dry wood, must not create nuisance smoke, and may not be used when DNR air quality is anything other than good or moderate. The rule is written for outdoor fires, not indoor stoves, but it shows how closely Madison ties burning to air quality. Check the forecast before lighting any fire.
Madison Fire Department outdoor and open burningLocal landmark? Get a Certificate of Approval first.
Madison’s Landmarks Commission must approve exterior alterations, new construction, and demolitions on locally designated properties; the city counts five local historic districts and 184 local landmarks. The city says to apply for the Certificate of Approval before applying for a building permit. A new chimney or exterior flue can be an exterior alteration, so check designation early.
City of Madison historic preservationOld stoves have been a Dane County air concern.
A January 2011 Dane County press release announced a one-month wood stove changeout program and quoted a DNR official citing 2008 estimates that the county had the third-highest fine-particle emissions from non-certified wood stoves in the Upper Midwest. The program has ended. For buyers, the point is that older non-certified stoves were a documented local concern; choose an EPA-certified model.
Dane County changeout press release (Jan. 2011)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 Madison.
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 Madison-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 Madison.
U.S. planning ranges to prepare for a Madison quote. They are national estimates, not measured Madison 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 Madison installer.
- Will you obtain the City of Madison Building Inspection permit for this installation?
- Does my property have local landmark or historic-district status that needs a Certificate of Approval?
- Is the stove you’re quoting EPA-certified, and what chimney or liner work is included?
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 Madison 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
Madison wood stove installation FAQs.
Does Madison require a permit for a wood stove?
Madison’s permit table lists fireplaces as needing a permit from Building Inspection. It does not mention wood stoves by name, so call Building Inspection at 608-266-4551, ext. 2, with your appliance model and venting plan and ask which permit and inspections apply.
Do Madison’s air-quality rules stop me from using an indoor stove?
The air-quality condition FireplaceLab found applies to outdoor fireplaces and pits: the fire department says they cannot be used when DNR air quality is worse than moderate. We did not find a Madison rule restricting indoor stove use on poor-air days. Check current conditions and ask the city if you are unsure.
My house is in a Madison historic district. What’s different?
The Landmarks Commission must approve exterior alterations to locally designated properties, and the city asks you to get the Certificate of Approval before applying for a building permit. Interior stove work may not trigger review, but a new chimney or exterior vent could. Contact the Landmarks Commission early.
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.
Explore options & pricing