What are rules for sweeping chimney in France and is October good time to do it?

Reader Question: We have a chimney at our second home in France and we are planning on spending much of the winter there this year for the first time, so will be our first time using the chimney. Do we need to sweep it before using it, and can we do this ourselves? Is there a best time to sweep it? 

There is no single rule for sweeping chimneys in France and it depends on the location of your property and your insurance. 

Chimneys that are in use during the winter have to be swept at least once per year by a professional chimney sweep (ramoneur), following the introduction of new legislation in 2023.

A professional is required so you can obtain a attestation de ramonage to prove the work has been carried out and the chimney is safe – important both for avoiding local fines for non-compliance and insurance claims in the event of an incident.

This initial sweep should be carried out before the chimney is used for the first time in the season so yes, October is a good time to book it in. 

You can use our article for tips on finding a professional chimney sweep in your area, or search online – make sure the company has professional accreditation to offer the attestation. 

The sweep should typically be registered as a business with a Siret/Siren number and in most cases professionals should be registered with the ‘APE’ activity code 8122Z.

Two sweeps often required

There are many cases where chimneys must be swept multiple times per year, however.

This can either be due to local bylaws, or insurance company rules.

Wood and coal burning systems are more often required to have two sweeps per year.

Check with both your local mairie and home insurance policy to ensure you are sweeping the chimney the correct number of times, typically twice.

Requirements can differ, with the second sweep needing to come either part-way through the season or a few weeks after the last fire has been lit (to ensure safety over the warmer months). 

Failure to sweep the chimney the correct number of times can lead to fines from local authorities, and insurance companies may not cover you for fire damage from a chimney if you do not have the attestations to show you hired a professional the correct amount of times. 

Note that if the chimney is completely out of use, you may be exempt from sweeping it. 

The 2023 law on chimneys states that “in the absence of use for a minimum period of 12 months [of the chimney], no maintenance is required during this period.” 

You will still need to check with your insurance company if a defunct chimney needs to be swept to be covered by your policy – some will accept a simple attestation that you do not use it, whereas others maintain a yearly sweep is necessary. 

Check chimney is allowed 

It is also vital to check with your mairie to see if chimneys are allowed in your commune.

Hundreds of communes now ban chimneys in one form or another.

Bans typically apply in urban areas – although rural areas near forests can be targeted – and are sometimes restricted to using chimneys as the main form of heating a home (in lieu of an installed heating system), but it is always worth checking.

These bans do not require chimneys to be destroyed, simply that they cannot be used to heat a home by burning materials.

Local ramoneurs will also be able to provide information on local rules, and again insurance companies may require chimneys to be cleaned to be covered under the policy, even if their use is banned.

Regular maintenance essential 

While you must employ a professional sweep, keeping up with regular maintenance of your chimney is essential alongside best practices to reduce fire risk. 

This includes cleaning it yourself and checking panels and grates are in working condition, as well as using the correct wood and keeping flammable objects away from the base of the chimney. 

More tips can be found in our article here.