Rochester Chimney Guide: Repair, Licensing, Permits (2026)

Updated October 19, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you start work.

Quick reference

Topic	What to know	Source
Climate	About 53 in. of snow a year; January average high about 22°F; average wind about 12.6 mph	Rochester climate data (Wikipedia)
Inspection	At least once a year	NFPA 211, via CSIA
Sweeping	Masonry fireplace at about 1/8 in. of soot, sooner with glazed creosote	CSIA
MN license	Needed for work in more than one special skill; single-skill and under-$15,000 exemptions	MN Dept. of Labor and Industry
Recovery fund	Claims against licensed contractors; up to $100,000 per owner per licensee	Minn. Stat. 326B.89
Rochester permits	Building Safety Department; re-roofing permits since May 1, 2025	City of Rochester
County	Factory-built fireplace and stove permit applications to the Inspections Division	Olmsted County Planning

Why does Rochester's weather wear out chimneys?

Rochester averages about 53 inches of snow a year under the 1991 to 2020 normals, and January's average high is about 22 degrees, with an average low around 7. It's also among the windiest cities in the country, averaging about 12.6 miles per hour, with January through April the windiest months. Masonry soaks up rain and melting snow, then freezes, and over many winters that opens mortar joints, spalls brick faces and cracks crowns. Wind drives moisture into open flues and under flashing. Snow that drifts against the uphill side of a chimney melts slowly against the flashing, which is why crickets and well-lapped flashing matter.

How often should a chimney be inspected and swept?

NFPA 211, as cited by the Chimney Safety Institute of America, says chimneys, fireplaces and vents should be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits and correct clearances. CSIA recommends sweeping masonry fireplaces at about one-eighth of an inch of soot, sooner if glazed creosote is present, and sweeping factory-built fireplaces when any appreciable buildup occurs. It also says liners serving wood-burning appliances need to be insulated.

What mortar is right for older brick?

The National Park Service's Preservation Brief 2 on repointing says replacement mortar should be softer and more vapor-permeable than the masonry units. Mortar that's harder than the brick traps moisture and transfers stress into the brick, which then cracks and spalls. The brief also says leaks from roofs, gutters and similar sources should be repaired before repointing. That matters in neighborhoods like the Pill Hill Residential Historic District, listed on the National Register in 1990, where most of the almost 130 houses were built in the first third of the 1900s.

Who needs a license to work on a Minnesota chimney?

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry requires a residential building contractor or remodeler license for anyone who contracts directly with an owner of a one- to four-unit residential property for work in more than one special skill. Masonry and concrete, a category that includes masonry fireplaces, is one special skill, and specialty contractors who provide only one special skill don't need the license. Contractors whose gross annual residential receipts are under $15,000 can apply for a Certificate of Exemption. A company that rebuilds a chimney and also reroofs, frames or does other trades on the same job generally needs the license.

Under Minnesota Statutes section 326B.89, homeowners with a final court judgment against a licensed residential contractor for fraud, deception, conversion of funds or failure of performance can apply to the Contractor Recovery Fund for actual out-of-pocket losses, up to $100,000 per owner per licensee. The fund only covers licensed contractors, so look up the license on DLI's website before you sign.

Who issues permits?

In Rochester, the Building Safety Department enforces the Minnesota Residential Code through plan review and inspections of permitted work, and the city says residential building contractors must be licensed by the state. Since May 1, 2025, the city has required permits and inspections for residential re-roofing, re-siding and window replacement. Olmsted County's Planning Department Inspections Division takes permit applications for factory-built fireplaces and stoves in the areas where the county does inspections; its form says the unit must be listed and installed according to its listing, with the manual on site for inspection. Kasson is in Dodge County, and other cities may run their own building departments, so check with your city or township.

Storm damage

On April 17, 2026, tornadoes struck south and east of Rochester. MPR News reported about 20 homes damaged in Stewartville and about 30 in the Marion area. After high winds or hail, have the crown, cap, upper brick and flashing checked before using the chimney.

Questions to ask a chimney company

Do you hold a Minnesota DLI license, or which exemption applies to you?
Is your sweep CSIA-certified, and will I get a written report with photos?
What mortar will you use, and how will you match my brick?
Does this job need a permit, and who will pull it?
What's warrantied, and for how long?

Common questions

Do chimney contractors need a license in Minnesota?

A contractor selling a homeowner work in more than one special skill needs a DLI residential contractor or remodeler license. A masonry-only specialist can be exempt.

How often should a chimney be inspected?

At least once a year, under NFPA 211, the standard CSIA refers homeowners to.

Does re-roofing need a permit in Rochester?

Yes. Since May 1, 2025, the City of Rochester has required permits and inspections for residential re-roofing.

Rochester chimney guide (2026)