Permit for Wood stove insert installation

gzax · Sep 29, 2015

I am getting a new wood stove insert installed in the next couple of weeks. I was told by the installer that they do not pull a permit, but the home owner has to do it from the town hall. Is it a hassle or pretty standard? I am in MA, is anyone here that has gone thru a similar situation?

Thank you.

begreen · Sep 29, 2015

Usually it is pretty straight forward, but that depends on the local rules. Sometimes it helps to have a sketch on hand of the proposed installation and bring the stove manual for reference on clearances and hearth requirements.

RAVinMetrowest · Sep 29, 2015

I consulted my insurance company first as well.

They were not concerned about my pellet stove used as an auxiliary heater. Wood stoves are a different story. If it is for primary heat, then the trouble starts.

electrathon · Sep 29, 2015

RAVinMetrowest said:
I consulted my insurance company first as well.

They were not concerned about my pellet stove used as an auxiliary heater. Wood stoves are a different story. If it is for primary heat, then the trouble starts.

It is usually a bad idea to tell anyone that a wood stove is your primary heat source. List it as secondary to whatever else you have. Furnace, electric heaters or whatever. There is no metering on usage. Many insurance companies will not cover you if you have wood as a primary heat source.

begreen · Sep 29, 2015

Officially we have the wood stove for power outage heating. And the wood shed? Earthquake supply.

EJL923 · Sep 29, 2015

i believe my experience was similar

firefighterjake · Sep 29, 2015

I suspect the experience largely depends on the town/city and their training . . . some places may do just a cursory inspection while other places may be quite detailed . . . figure on either just signing some papers or having an inspector go over the install with a fine toothed comb . . . or something in between.

And as others have mentioned . . . my woodstove is also a secondary heat source and not my primary heat source . . . and technically the oil boiler is never shut off during the winter. I do run the woodstove a fair amount though.

edge-of-the-woods · Sep 29, 2015

gzax said:
I am getting a new wood stove insert installed in the next couple of weeks. I was told by the installer that they do not pull a permit, but the home owner has to do it from the town hall. Is it a hassle or pretty standard? I am in MA, is anyone here that has gone thru a similar situation?

Thank you.

Not a hassle in neighboring CT, apart from taking the time off work to be there during their office hours.

Guy at the building department told me that the installer is supposed to pull the permit, but they don't like to waste the time doing it, so they pass it on to the homeowner.

NoGoodAtScreenNames · Sep 29, 2015

My experience last year - also in MA was similar. To be honest I think he would have installed it without the permit if I hadn't asked him about it. I picked up the paperwork from town-hall and had the contractor fill it out.

When I brought it back in with the contractor's signature they crossed it all out and made me fill it out as the homeowner. They only do contractor permits if they show up. I think you lose some rights against the contractor if you pull it yourself. But I wanted the stove and went along... Check with your town for how they handle it.

I was worried about the inspector because by the paperwork he thought I did it myself. He took one step into the room, looked at the insert from a sharp angle and then signed the paper. Didn't look at a thing...

brenndatomu · Sep 29, 2015

Yep, the permit is meant for the person/company doing the work.

electrathon · Sep 29, 2015

NoGoodAtScreenNames said:
My experience last year - also in MA was similar. To be honest I think he would have installed it without the permit if I hadn't asked him about it....

...He took one step into the room, looked at the insert from a sharp angle and then signed the paper. Didn't look at a thing...

Exactly why a lot of the contractors do not mess with permits. The alternative to this is the inspectors are slow and want more work. They fail almost every job and then get to come back for a re-inspection. Not a big deal if the work is bad, it is usually an easy fix. But if the work is good, the inspector may have to dig very deep to fail the job. It can then cost the good contractors a lot of money to pacify the inspectors whims.

jrems · Sep 29, 2015

You might be grandfathered in. Didn't you say you removed an insert in a previous thread? I asked the local inspector and he said if one was already installed and you are replacing an existing insert you didn't need a permit. A permit was only for a new install not a replacement.

gzax · Sep 30, 2015

RAVinMetrowest said:
I consulted my insurance company first as well.

They were not concerned about my pellet stove used as an auxiliary heater. Wood stoves are a different story. If it is for primary heat, then the trouble starts.

I hear you.. I originally had a wood stove insert in my fireplace when we bought the house. So I hope the insurance company shouldn't have anything about it as long as I do it by a professional and it is up to code and there is a permit on file with the town.

gzax · Sep 30, 2015

electrathon said:
It is usually a bad idea to tell anyone that a wood stove is your primary heat source. List it as secondary to whatever else you have. Furnace, electric heaters or whatever. There is no metering on usage. Many insurance companies will not cover you if you have wood as a primary heat source.

Thank you. To me, I have a gas furnace and don't want that to be the only heating source. I may be using the fireplace occassionaly..

gzax · Sep 30, 2015

jrems said:
You might be grandfathered in. Didn't you say you removed an insert in a previous thread? I asked the local inspector and he said if one was already installed and you are replacing an existing insert you didn't need a permit. A permit was only for a new install not a replacement.

Thank you.

mwatt65 · Sep 30, 2015

I would make them pull the permit, In NJ you don't have to pay until all final inspections are passed & they have to warranty the work!

gzax · Oct 1, 2015

mwatt65 said:
I would make them pull the permit, In NJ you don't have to pay until all final inspections are passed & they have to warranty the work!

Wish I was in New Jersey..

gzax · Oct 1, 2015

NoGoodAtScreenNames said:
My experience last year - also in MA was similar. To be honest I think he would have installed it without the permit if I hadn't asked him about it. I picked up the paperwork from town-hall and had the contractor fill it out.

When I brought it back in with the contractor's signature they crossed it all out and made me fill it out as the homeowner. They only do contractor permits if they show up. I think you lose some rights against the contractor if you pull it yourself. But I wanted the stove and went along... Check with your town for how they handle it.

I was worried about the inspector because by the paperwork he thought I did it myself. He took one step into the room, looked at the insert from a sharp angle and then signed the paper. Didn't look at a thing...

Thank you.. Now that's what I call an inspection!

Beer Belly · Oct 1, 2015

Here in my little corner of Ct, we did not need a permit, and the Insurance company said it didn't matter as far as the policy goes because it was an Insert going into an existing fireplace......but we did go to Town Hall and have the Building Inspector sign off on it.....took a couple times before he passed it due to clearances, but glad that he looked at it to make sure it was safe....no cost that I can remember

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