Wood-burning equipment must be installed properly to prevent fires and injuries. That’s why state law requires that a permit, inspection, and approval be obtained from Portland Permitting & Development when installing a wood stove, fireplace wood stove insert, or chimney in the City of Portland.
When you need a permit for a chimney, fireplace, heat exchanger, pellet stove, stove, or wood stove
| Project type | Type of permit and inspection | Fees to pay |
|---|---|---|
| Installation of a wood stove, fireplace wood stove insert, wood furnace, pellet stove or any solid fuel burning appliance | mechanical | Minimum fee plus state surcharge |
| Installation of a factory built chimney or metal chimney | mechanical | |
| Construction or repair of a masonry fireplace and/or chimney | building | Based on the fair market valuation of the project |
| If stove or heat exchanger installation includes a fan and/or required electrical wiring | electrical in addition to any other required permit | Based on the number of circuits affected by the work |
| Installation of a heat exchanger only, no fan or wiring necessary | none | none |
Requirements for fireplace inserts, heat exchangers, wood-burning appliances, and wood stoves
| Type | Comments | Installation |
|---|---|---|
| Listed and labeled wood stoves and fireplace wood stove inserts | Tested and approved by a recognized testing agency and are usually marked as listed by:
| According to the manufacturer’s installation instructions which you should keep and show the inspector to verify correct installation |
Certified wood stoves This includes listed and labeled, pellet, catalytic and non-catalytic, and fireplace inserts. | State Law (ORS 468.655) allows only wood stoves certified as new on or after July 1, 1986. These stoves cut down on air pollution and have a Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved label. | If listed, then according to the manufacturer’s instructions, otherwise according to International Mechanical Code (IMC) |
Antique wood stoves Is your stove antique? Call the Residential Inspections phone number. |
| According to International Mechanical Code (IMC) |
Existing wood stoves Existing legal wood stoves are those that were legally installed before the new regulations and are exempt from the new regulations. |
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| Catalytic Wood Stove |
| If listed and labeled, then according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions, otherwise according to International Mechanical Code (IMC). |
| Noncatalytic Wood Stove |
| If listed and labeled, then according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions, otherwise according to International Mechanical Code (IMC). |
| Fireplace Inserts |
| According to the manufacturer’s installation instructions. Never install into a metal fireplace or into a fireplace with a metal fire chamber, unless both fireplace and insert are specially listed and labeled for that use. |
| Pellet Stove |
| If listed and labeled, then according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions, otherwise according to International Mechanical Code (IMC and IRC). |
| Heat Exchangers |
| According to the manufacturer’s installation instructions. A fan requiring electrical wiring must be permitted and have an electrical inspection. |
| Wood Furnaces |
| According to the manufacturer’s instructions. |
Water Heating Installing water heating coils, water jackets or similar devices in a wood stove can be hazardous. Discuss your plans before you buy or install such a water heating system by calling the Residential Inspections phone number. | If the stove is listed and labeled for water heating, according to manufacturer’s installation instructions. | |
Wall protection, wall spacers, and combustible walls
Walls and ceilings are considered combustible if they contain any material that will burn. Even though a wall may be covered with brick or metal, without an air space between the wall protection and the combustible wall, heat can pass through the protection and into the wall. Eventually, wood inside the wall will break down and may catch fire at a relatively low temperature.
The side and rear of the stove must be positioned away from combustible walls
- According to manufacturer’s specifications for listed and labeled stoves.
- Thirty six inches for an antique stove.
- Forty eight inches for unlisted stoves.
For a wood stove to be closer than the specified distance from a combustible wall, wall protection must be installed and acceptable wall shields include:
- Sheet metal, 24-gauge or heavier, spaced one inch from the wall with noncombustible spacers and ventilation along the top and bottom.
- Noncombustible insulating board, at least one-half inch thick, securely supported by a metal frame, ventilated along the top and bottom and spaced one inch from the wall.
- Brick wall, at least four inches thick, laid in front of a combustible wall, leaving a one-inch air space between the two walls. The brick wall must have openings at the bottom and top for air to pass through.
Wall spacers are necessary to allow air space between the wall protection and the combustible wall.
- Make sure that all spacers, glue, plastic, covering and other materials used to create the air space are noncombustible and will retain their strength under intense heat.
- Square, rectangular or round metal tubing, conduit, pipe and channels make good spacers.
- Strips of sheetrock, plasterboard or asbestos should never be used.
- Spacers should be well attached to the wall framing. If this is not possible, call the Residential Inspections phone number for options on attaching spacers.
Chimney connectors and floor protection
The chimney connector is an important part of the heating system, and can be dangerous if not installed correctly.
- Choose chimney connectors that are listed and labeled for locations less than 18 inches from combustible construction. Otherwise, unlisted chimney connectors must be kept at least 18 inches from all unprotected combustible construction, including walls, ceilings, furniture, drapes, etc.
- Choose chimney connectors that are listed and labeled to pass through combustible construction, otherwise the connector must not pass through walls, floors or ceilings unless a listed and labeled wall pass-through device is installed for the connector to pass through.
- A wood stove can be connected to a lined masonry fireplace chimney as long as the damper is permanently sealed airtight. The damper must then be filled with sand, concrete or a similar fireproof material and the chimney connector installed above the damper.
- A chimney connected to a wood burning appliance must not be shared with or connected to appliances burning gas, oil, or other fuels.
Combustion air
For a fire to burn properly, a lot of air is required. In large rooms, air supply is usually not a problem. If you plan to install a stove in a small room, or if your house is particularly airtight, you must provide an air supply (combustion air).
- Combustion air must come directly from the outside. It may come through a duct and a grille that can be closed when there is no fire.
- The opening must be six and one-half inches minimum in area and located within 24 inches of the firebox.
- The air vent must not be located directly under the stove door because ashes could fall into it.
An inadequate air supply to your solid fuel appliance will cause incomplete burns, resulting in soot and smoke.
Fires that burn with sufficient air will consume the fuel and the released gases completely resulting in a cleaner fire with little or no smoke or soot.
Ventilate a fireplace or wood stove
- To reduce indoor air pollution, a good supply of fresh outdoor air is needed. The movement of air into and out of your home is very important. This supply of fresh air is also important to help carry pollutants up the chimney, stovepipe, or flue to the outside.
- Make sure that your vented appliance has the vent connected and that nothing is blocking it. Make sure there are no holes or cracks in the vent.
- Open the wood stove’s damper when adding wood. This allows more air into the stove. More air helps the wood burn properly and prevents pollutants from being drawn back into the house instead of going up the chimney.
Location of wood stove
- Locate your stove appropriately. Never install a stove in an alcove or closet unless the stove is specially listed for that location.
- Never operate a wood stove which has a vent outlet closer than 10 feet to a return air inlet for a forced air heating system.
- Keep combustible materials away from the wood stove.
Glossary of wood stove terms
Certified Wood Stove: these stoves cut down on air pollution and have Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved label. Any type of solid fuel burning stove may be certified, and to legally install a wood stove or fireplace insert it must be certified.
Chimney Connector is the stovepipe that connects the stove to the chimney. It must be a minimum of 24-gauge sheet metal and must be the same size as the outlet collar on the stove. Choose a chimney connector that is listed and labeled or keep the connector at least 18 inches from combustible construction.
Combustible Materials includes anything that can burn. Not only is the solid fuel (wood or wood pellets) combustible, but furniture, carpets, walls and floors can be combustible.
Connector Pass-Through is the portion of the stove system that passes through the wall, and must be labeled for wall pass-through.
Floor Protection must be installed beneath a wood stove and must be of a noncombustible material, some wood stoves must be installed on a hollow masonry unit.
Flue Collar, Outlet Collar is the collar around the opening in the wood stove that connects to the chimney connector.
HT: high temperature
Manufacturers Installation Instructions:the instructions that come from the manufacturer to be used specifically for the installation of the particular wood stove they reference.
Thimble can be metal or clay and must be permanently cemented to the chimney. Thimbles make for a tighter fit and allow removal of the connector for cleaning and inspection. Choose a listed and labeled thimble, or keep it 18 inches from combustible construction.
Wall Protection is a noncombustible shield installed between wall and stove with wall spacers to provide at least one inch of air space between the wall and the protection, and a gap of at least one inch at the top and bottom. Approved wall protection allows the wood stove to be installed closer to the wall.
Prefabricated chimneys
Chimneys
All wood stoves must be vented through a listed and labeled prefabricated metal chimney or a lined masonry chimney. A chimney connector, gas vent, single wall pipe or unlined masonry chimney cannot be used as a chimney for a wood stove.
- Prefabricated Chimney Pipe is approved factory built chimney pipe that has a label on each piece, which tells you that the chimney is type HT (high temperature). The label will also say how far you must keep the chimney pipe from combustible materials. All listed factory built chimneys must be Type HT and installed according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
- Existing Masonry Chimneys should be inspected by a mason, chimney sweep or the homeowner before a wood stove connection is made. If the chimney is in bad shape, it must be repaired or taken down and a new one built. A building permit is required to construct a masonry chimney.
- To inspect the flue, you can lower a drop cord down the chimney or use a flashlight and a mirror through the cleanout or thimble hole. Check the chimney for bad mortar, cracks, loose brick, broken or missing liners, blockages, unsealed openings and overall condition. If unsure, contact a professional.
- Old brick chimneys are usually covered by construction, making it difficult to check for framing in contact with the masonry. Sometimes you can see whether there is space between the chimney and the wood construction by looking up around the chimney from the basement or crawl space. If you have any doubts about hidden areas around the chimney in contact with the construction, you should cut a hole in the wall to verify you have enough clearance. A clearance of two inches to all combustible construction is required.
Masonry chimneys
Certified wood stoves and the label
- Certified wood stove is one that has been tested and passed air pollution standards.
- EPA began certifying stoves in 1988. Newer approved stoves will carry an EPA label.
- Oregon DEQ certified wood stoves 1984 to 1988.
- State Building Code requires permits and inspections for wood stove installations, and allows the installation of only certified wood stoves.
- Exceptions may include pellet stoves, antique stoves, cook stoves, and wood-burning furnaces. We can tell you if your wood-burning appliance must be certified. A permit is always required for installation.
All certified stoves must have approval labeling from the EPA. Wood stoves often have several labels. A safety label lists requirements for safe clearances to walls, hearths, and chimneys and is often confused with certification. A safety label from a safety listing agency is NOT the same as EPA certification. It is very important to understand the difference when choosing a wood stove. EPA certified wood stoves will:
- Emit 50 to 60 percent less pollution.
- Use two-thirds less wood.
- Circulate heat more efficiently, so it stays in your home instead of going out the flue.
- Deposit less creosote buildup in chimneys.
Learn more about listed and labeled wood stoves and fireplace inserts.
Avoid chimney fires
Creosote comes from burning wood without enough air for the fire, and it is a black, shiny tar like substance that can coat the inside of stoves, smoke pipes and chimneys. Even a half inch buildup can be dangerous. Creosote is what burns in the stove system during a chimney fire. Stoves and chimney connectors may become red hot in a chimney fire. Flaming embers may also blow out the top of the chimney and potentially cause a roof fire.
To help prevent creosote, burn the stove with the draft fully open at least once a day. The chimney and chimney connector must be cleaned with stiff wire chimney brushes and scrapers at least once a year. Some systems may need to be cleaned more often.
Schedule a fireplace or wood stove inspection
- Call Requests for Inspection and Inspection Results
- Enter your IVR or permit number
- Enter the three-digit inspection code for the type of inspection you are requesting
- Enter a phone number where you can be reached during weekdays and if you want the inspection in the morning or afternoon
- There must be an adult over age 18 to let the inspector inside
Note: All information is subject to change.
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