About WoodStoveCode
An independent, editorially driven resource for homeowners navigating wood stove installation requirements in the United States.
Why This Site Exists
Installing a wood stove should be straightforward: find the code requirements for your state, get a permit, pass an inspection, enjoy your stove. In practice, the information needed to do this correctly is scattered across municipal PDFs, chimney sweep service pages, Reddit threads, and manufacturer manuals — none of which tell a complete, coherent story.
WoodStoveCode was built to fix that. This site organizes the actual code requirements — NFPA 211, IRC Section R1004, EPA Phase 2 rules, state-specific amendments — into plain-language guides that answer the questions homeowners actually ask, in the format they actually need.
Editorial Approach
Every guide on WoodStoveCode is written to be accurate, specific, and useful — not to sell anything. We cite the actual code sections we reference. We flag where requirements vary by jurisdiction rather than giving false universal answers. We update guides when requirements change.
We are not affiliated with any stove manufacturer, chimney company, or building supply retailer. We don't accept sponsored content or paid placements. Guides are written based on publicly available building codes, EPA documentation, and NFPA standards.
What We Cover
- State permit guides — permit requirements, code basis, and practical process for all 50 states
- Clearance requirements — wall, floor, ceiling, and stovepipe clearances with the NFPA 211 reduction tables
- EPA certification — what Phase 2 means, how to verify your stove, and why it matters
- Inspection guides — exactly what inspectors check, how to prepare, and what causes failures
- Scenario guides — home buyers, home sellers, DIY installers, manufactured home owners
- Free tools — the Clearance Calculator and downloadable permit checklist PDFs
A Note on Accuracy
Building codes are adopted and amended locally. A guide about Tennessee's requirements reflects the state's adopted code basis and common county enforcement practices — it cannot account for every local amendment or recent ordinance change. Always verify specific requirements with your local building department before beginning any installation work. The guides on this site give you a solid foundation and the right questions to ask; your building department gives you the authoritative answer for your specific address.
Contact
Have a correction to suggest or a question we haven't answered? Use the contact page. We read every message and update guides when factual corrections are submitted with supporting code citations.