Wood-burning stove
1. Key facts at a glance
Anyone who operates a wood-burning stove in Germany is bound by three federal regulations: the 1. Bundes-Immissionsschutzverordnung (1. BImSchV), the Kehr- und Überprüfungsordnung (KÜO) and, when replacing the main heating system, the Gebäudeenergiegesetz (GEG).
The first and key point of contact is always the authorised district chimney sweep. They sign off every new stove, set sweeping and measurement intervals and regularly inspect the installation.
The federal government does not fund classic wood-burning stoves. Anyone who replaces their old stove with a pellet stove with water jacket can receive up to 80 % in federal funding. To do so they need an energy consultant.
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2. Funding: what is possible, what is not
Classic wood-burning stove: no funding
A wood-burning stove that only heats the room where it is installed receives no funding nationwide. This applies equally to KfW, BAFA and the tax bonus under § 35c EStG, regardless of model, price or efficiency rating.
Pellet stove with water jacket: grant of up to 80 %
Anyone who replaces their wood-burning stove or their old oil/gas heating system with an automatically fed pellet stove with water jacket can apply for federal funding. Requirement: The system is connected to the heating system and covers at least 65 % of the heating and hot water load.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Basic funding | 30 % of eligible costs |
| Climate speed bonus | + 16 % (currently, decreases in stages) |
| Income bonus | + 10 to 40 % (scaled by income) |
| Maximum funding rate (capped) | 80 % |
| Eligible costs (single-family home) | 28.000 EUR (currently, decreases in stages) |
| Maximum grant | up to 22.400 EUR (80 % of 28.000 EUR) |
| Application office | KfW, Meine KfW portal |
The climate speed bonus applies when replacing an oil, gas or coal heating system that is still functioning. Since 21.07.2026 it has been 16 %. From February 2027, it will fall by 4 percentage points every six months and will cease completely from August 2028.
The income bonus is based on the taxable annual household income: 40 % up to 30.000 EUR, 30 % over 30.000 up to 40.000 EUR, 10 % over 40.000 up to 50.000 EUR. If at least one minor child lives in the household, the income taken into account is reduced arithmetically by 10.000 EUR per child.
Eligible costs have been falling since 2026 by 750 EUR every six months. Currently (21.07.2026 to 31.01.2027) they are 28.000 EUR for the first residential unit.
From the outset, the contract with the specialist company must contain a condition precedent or subsequent that only makes it effective after the KfW funding approval. Adding this clause later is not permitted. If an unconditional contract is signed before the funding approval is granted, the entire funding is lost.
3. Energy consultant: mandatory for funding
A BAFA-listed energy efficiency expert is required for the Bestätigung zum Antrag (BzA). The energy consultant checks whether the system meets the technical requirements, calculates the seasonal performance factor and prepares the funding documents.
Find an energy consultant: Energy consultant Germany General
4. W Check a heat pump as an alternative
Anyone who has to replace their main heating system anyway should also consider a heat pump in parallel. Both routes fall under the same funding framework (KfW 458, BEG) with the same funding rates of up to 80 % of eligible costs. However, the requirements for the building and insulation differ depending on the system.
Funding and requirements in detail: Heat pump Germany General
5. KfW heating funding 458
Pellet heating systems with a buffer cylinder can alternatively be subsidised via the KfW programme 458, with identical subsidy rates to the BEG individual measure. Info centre: 0800 539 9002 (free of charge).
6. tax bonus § 35c EStG: alternative without a subsidy application
Anyone who does not apply for a KfW grant can deduct the costs for tax purposes. Can be combined with state-level funding, but not with KfW/BAFA for the same measure.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Tax bonus | 20 % of the costs |
| Maximum amount per property | 40.000 EUR |
| Breakdown | Year 1 + 2: 7 % each, year 3: 6 % |
| Requirement | Specialist company, invoice, bank transfer, building at least 10 Jahre old |
| Period of validity | until 31 December 2029 |
7. State-level funding in addition to federal funding
Many federal states subsidise replacing heating systems in addition to federal funding, for example through low-interest loans from the respective state development bank. Programmes, conditions and deadlines vary from federal state to federal state.
See also: Kaminofen federal states.
8. Legal obligations at a glance
Federal Immission Control Ordinance, or BImSchV. It sets out nationwide how many pollutants firing systems are allowed to emit. The 1. BImSchV specifically affects small and medium-sized systems, including any wood-burning stove in a private household.
8.1 1. BImSchV: emission limit values and obligation to replace
| Pollutant | Limit value |
|---|---|
| Particulate matter (PM 2,5) | max. 0,04 g/m³ flue gas volume flow |
| Carbon monoxide (CO) | max. 4,0 g/m³ flue gas volume flow |
| Efficiency | at least 75 % |
For stoves manufactured from 1950 onwards, all replacement deadlines have expired. Anyone still operating a non-compliant stove must retrofit it, decommission it or replace it. Stoves from before 1950 have grandfathering and have no replacement deadline.
| Year of manufacture / type plate | Deadline | Exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| No type plate or before 1950 | Grandfathering, no deadline | Masonry heaters, historic stoves |
| Type plate 1950–1974 | expired 31.12.2014 | Masonry heaters made of tiles/clay |
| Type plate 1975–1984 | expired 31.12.2017 | Masonry heaters made of tiles/clay |
| Type plate 1985–1994 | expired 31.12.2020 | none |
| Type plate 1995–21.03.2010 | expired 31.12.2024 | none |
Exempt: open fireplaces (rarely used), masonry heaters made of tiles/soapstone, stoves as the only heat source, holiday flats used for under 4 months per year.
8.2 Kehr- und Überprüfungsordnung (KÜO)
The KÜO sets out uniformly nationwide when the chimney sweep has to come. 1 Arbeitswert (AW) = 1,40 EUR net (uniform nationwide since 21.01.2025).
| Obligation | When |
|---|---|
| Certificate of suitability | One-off before initial commissioning |
| Feuerstättenbescheid | After every Feuerstättenschau |
| Feuerstättenschau | 2 × in 7 Jahren |
| Sweeping | 1–2 × per year depending on usage |
| Flue gas measurement | After commissioning, then every 2 Jahre |
8.3 Landesbauordnung
Connection to an existing chimney does not require approval nationwide. When building a new chimney, depending on the Landesbauordnung, a notification procedure or planning permission applies. Clarify this in advance with the Bauordnungsamt (service number 115).
9. The district chimney sweep
How do I find mine?
Search by postcode or address: www.schornsteinfeger.de
ZIV: Zentralinnungsverband, Sankt Augustin. Telephone: 02241 3407-0.
Certificate of suitability
Required before first commissioning. The chimney sweep checks the chimney, flue routing and installation room. Cost: 80–180 EUR.
Feuerstättenbescheid
Sets out bindingly how often sweeping and measurement take place. Valid until the next Feuerstättenschau.
Feuerstättenschau
2 × in 7 Jahren. The chimney sweep checks all firing systems and the flue system. In the event of serious defects, immediate decommissioning is possible. Cost: 30–60 EUR.
Sweeping and measurement
| Use | Sweeping | Measurement |
|---|---|---|
| Primary heating | 2 × per year | Every 2 Jahre |
| Supplementary heating | 1 × per year or every 2 Jahre | Every 2 Jahre |
Permitted fuels
Permitted: untreated logs (max. 25 % moisture), wood briquettes (DIN EN 1528), wood pellets (DIN EN ISO 17225-2).
Prohibited: varnished, treated or coated wood, chipboard, waste wood. Violations can lead to decommissioning.
10. Installing a new wood-burning stove: step by step
- Commission a specialist company. Registered master craft business in tiled stove and warm-air heating construction.
- Have the chimney checked. Suitable for the new stove? Otherwise refurbish or build a new one.
- If building a new chimney: clarify the Landesbauordnung. Contact the Bauordnungsamt.
- Have the stove installed.
- Obtain a certificate of suitability. Only then may the stove be put into operation.
- Wait for the Feuerstättenbescheid. Observe the intervals.
In addition, for a subsidised pellet stove:
- Commission an energy consultant and have the BzA prepared.
- Conclude a contract with a suspensive or resolutory condition. Only then submit the subsidy application in the KfW portal.
- Wait for the funding approval.
- Have it installed, submit proof of use (6 Monate after completion).
11. Ald stove: still legal?
| Option | Description | Costs (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Decommission | Chimney sweep confirms decommissioning | 0–200 EUR |
| Retrofit | Fine particulate filter (only if technically possible) | 1.500–4.000 EUR |
| Replace | New stove compliant with Stage-2 | 1.500–7.000 EUR total |
12. Typical costs
| Item | Costs (approx.) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Simple wood-burning stove | 500–1.500 EUR | Without installation |
| Higher-quality wood-burning stove | 1.500–4.000 EUR | Without installation |
| Tiled stove insert / storage stove | 3.000–10.000 EUR | Craft work |
| Pellet stove with water jacket | 4.000–12.000 EUR | Eligible for funding |
| Installation and assembly | 500–2.500 EUR | Depending on the effort involved |
| Chimney renovation | 500–3.000 EUR | Stainless-steel lining |
| New chimney (inside) | 3.000–8.000 EUR | Depending on the number of storeys |
| New chimney (outside) | 4.000–12.000 EUR | – |
| Fine particulate filter retrofit | 1.500–4.000 EUR | If possible |
| Certificate of suitability | 80–180 EUR | One-off |
| Sweeping per year | 20–50 EUR | – |
| Flue gas measurement (every 2 Jahre) | 50–100 EUR | – |
13. Relevant bodies
Bezirksschornsteinfeger: Search by postcode via schornsteinfeger.de. ZIV: 02241 3407-0.
Umweltbundesamt: List of approved fireplaces, limit values. umweltbundesamt.de. Tel: 0340 2103-0.
BAFA: Eligible biomass systems, BEG energy advice. Tel: +49 6196 908-1625. bafa.de.
KfW: Heating funding 458. Tel: 0800 539 9002. kfw.de/meine-kfw.
Find an energy consultant: Energieberater Deutschland Allgemein · Energieeffizienz-Experten-Liste
14. Frequently asked questions
What applies if my stove does not have a type plate?
Your stove is regarded as having been built before 1950. It is protected as an existing installation and has no replacement deadline. Exceptions are confirmed by the Bezirksschornsteinfeger on a case-by-case basis.
Is a classic wood-burning stove funded?
No. Only pellet stoves with a water jacket that are connected to the heating system and take on at least 65 % of the heating load.
Do I need an energy consultant for the funding?
Yes. For the Confirmation for the Application (BzA), a BAFA-listed energy efficiency expert is required. → Find an energy consultant
Is the heat pump or the pellet stove funded better?
Both systems are eligible for funding at the same funding rates, up to 80 % of the eligible costs (30 % basic funding, currently 16 % climate speed bonus, 10 to 40 % income bonus, capped at 80 %). Which system makes more sense depends on the building, insulation and heating load. The energy consultant calculates that.
What happens if I miss a sweep?
Subsequent sweeping at your own expense, possible administrative offence, liability risk in the event of a fire.
Do I need planning permission?
You do not need planning permission to connect to an existing chimney. If you build a new chimney, planning permission may be required depending on the Landesbauordnung.
What does room-air-independent operation mean?
Combustion air comes from outside, not from the installation room. Mandatory in airtight new builds (under 0,6 h⁻¹ air change rate) and flats with a ventilation system.
Note on currency
KÜO work value is adjusted annually: schornsteinfeger.de/gebuehren. Climate speed bonus and eligible costs decrease as planned on fixed key dates (1 February and 1 August) until 2030.