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Serving all 14 Winnebago County communities

Chimney Sweep in Argyle, IL

Updated

Argyle in short

Housing in Argyle has a median build year of 1986 against 1971 for the county, and 0% of 141 homes are from before 1960. 94.3% of homes heat with utility gas, so most chimneys here vent a furnace or water heater as well as any fireplace. Fire service: Depends on the address (several districts). National guides put a chimney sweep at $129 to $381 (Angi); no guide publishes a Rockford price.

The local numbers

How old the homes are in Argyle

The Census counts only 141 households and 141 housing units in Argyle, so the percentages below carry wide margins of error and are not ranked against larger places.

The homes in Argyle are neither especially old nor especially new. The median home was built in 1986 (county: 1971); 0% of its 141 homes predate 1960 and 9.9% went up in 2000 or later.

Utility gas is the main heat in 94.3% of Argyle's 141 occupied homes; electricity heats 5.7%. The Census counts no homes here that heat mainly with wood. So for most households the chimney is a furnace and water heater flue first and a fireplace second, which is why a liner sized for a gas appliance matters as much as a clean firebox.

Argyle's burning ordinance is worth knowing before you clean out the fireplace. Winnebago County Code Sec. 42-3 covers unincorporated areas. Landscape waste burning is banned in unincorporated areas surrounded by, or within a mile of, a city or village that bans it. Fireplace ash goes in a lidded metal can at least 10 feet from the house, per the U.S. Fire Administration, and never on a burn pile with leaves.

For a building permit in Argyle, the office is the Winnebago County Building Division. It is at 404 Elm Street, Room 403, Rockford, (815) 319-4350. Its pages do not say whether a chimney rebuild, a new liner or a stove install needs a permit, so call before the work is scheduled.

Homes by year built: Winnebago County2000 or later: Winnebago County 13.6%; 1980 to 1999: Winnebago County 23%; 1960 to 1979: Winnebago County 27.9%; 1940 to 1959: Winnebago County 20%; 1939 or earlier: Winnebago County 15.5%Winnebago CountyBuilt 2000 or later13.6%Built 1980 to 199923%Built 1960 to 197927.9%Built 1940 to 195920%Built 1939 or earlier15.5%
Share of housing units by the year built. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), table B25034.

Argyle housing and households vs Winnebago County

MeasureArgyleWinnebago County
Residents324283,292
Housing units141125,002
Occupied (households)141116,014
Owner-occupied households141 (100%)76,408 (65.9%)
Renter households0 (0%)39,606 (34.1%)
Median year built19861971
Built before 19400%15.5%
Built before 19600%35.5%
Built before 198019.1%63.4%
Built 2000 or later9.9%13.6%
Single-family detached100%70.4%
Mobile homes0%1.3%
Main heat: utility gas94.3%83.5%
Main heat: electricity5.7%12.6%
Main heat: wood0 homes (0%)169 homes (0.1%)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024), tables B01003, B25003, B25024, B25034, B25035, B25038 and B25040 (house heating fuel). Small-area estimates; wide margins of error.

Local rules

Permits, burning rules and fire service in Argyle

Wikipedia lists Argyle in Boone and Winnebago counties; the Census figures cover the whole place, and we did not research Boone County's permit rules.

Argyle is an unincorporated community, so the Winnebago County Building Division's unincorporated-area rules apply to its Winnebago County part. The Census counts only a small number of households here, so percentages are rough.

Chimney, stove and liner work
County Code Chapter 18 makes it unlawful to alter a structure without a permit. The county pages we read do not name chimney, liner or stove work either way, so call the Building Division at (815) 319-4350 before a rebuild, a new liner or a stove or insert install. source
Permit office
The Winnebago County Building Division (Regional Planning and Economic Development), 404 Elm Street, Room 403, Rockford, (815) 319-4350, permits and inspects construction in unincorporated areas and also serves Cherry Valley, Durand, New Milford, Rockton, Roscoe and South Beloit. County Code Chapter 18 makes it unlawful to alter a structure without first obtaining a permit. Applications use the Commercial and Residential Building Permit Application with plans. source 1 source 2
Code edition
The county's codes page (last modified February 20, 2025) says that as of April 1, 2016 the Building Division follows the 2015 International Building Code, 2015 International Residential Code, 2014 National Electrical Code, the 2015 International Fire, Fuel Gas and Mechanical Codes and the 2014 Illinois State Plumbing Code. Ordinance 2016 CO 034 adopts the 2015 IRC at Winnebago County Code Sec. 18-321 with amendments (we did not retrieve the amendment text). That listing looks old next to the statewide baseline that began January 1, 2025, so confirm the edition with the Building Division before designing. source 1 source 2
Contractor rules
The county application has fields for general, electrical and other contractors, but we found no county contractor registration requirement. Illinois does not license general contractors at the state level. source 1 source 2
Outdoor burning
Winnebago County Code Sec. 42-3 covers unincorporated areas. Landscape waste burning is banned in unincorporated areas surrounded by, or within a mile of, a city or village that bans it. Elsewhere dry landscape waste may be burned on weekends from April 15 through May 15 and on November weekends, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., at least 25 feet from any building, structure or property line. Campfires and recreational fires are allowed but may not include landscape waste. Fines run up to $500. source 1 source 2
Fire department
Fire protection in the unincorporated county depends on the address: Harlem-Roscoe, North Park, Cherry Valley, Rockton, Pecatonica, Winnebago County FPD #1 (Durand), Win-Bur-Sew and New Milford fire protection districts all cover parts of it. MABAS Division 8 lists the member departments. source

About Argyle. Argyle is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Boone and Winnebago counties northeast of Rockford, with 332 residents at the 2020 census. Wikipedia

ZIP codes. 61011. Census 2020

Full pricing, the complete service menu, and the rest of the service area are on the chimney sweep in Rockford, IL homepage.

Common questions

Argyle chimney sweep questions

Does chimney work need a permit in Argyle?

County Code Chapter 18 makes it unlawful to alter a structure without a permit. The county pages we read do not name chimney, liner or stove work either way, so call the Building Division at (815) 319-4350 before a rebuild, a new liner or a stove or insert install.

Can I burn leaves or have a fire pit in Argyle?

Winnebago County Code Sec. 42-3 covers unincorporated areas. Landscape waste burning is banned in unincorporated areas surrounded by, or within a mile of, a city or village that bans it. Elsewhere dry landscape waste may be burned on weekends from April 15 through May 15 and on November weekends, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., at least 25 feet from any building, structure or property line.

Which fire department covers Argyle?

Fire protection in the unincorporated county depends on the address: Harlem-Roscoe, North Park, Cherry Valley, Rockton, Pecatonica, Winnebago County FPD #1 (Durand), Win-Bur-Sew and New Milford fire protection districts all cover parts of it. MABAS Division 8 lists the member departments.

How old are the chimneys in Argyle?

The Census does not count chimneys, but it does date the homes. Per the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, the median home in Argyle was built in 1986 (Winnebago County: 1971). 0% of its 141 homes were built before 1940 and 0% before 1960, against 35.5% county-wide.

What does a chimney sweep cost in Argyle?

No cost guide publishes a Rockford figure. Angi's national guide puts a sweep at $129 to $381 with an average of $254, and HomeGuide says $150 to $375. A Level 2 camera inspection runs $260 to $460 on Angi's sweep guide. The full price table shows each source and its date.

How often should a chimney in Argyle be swept?

The national standard, NFPA 211, says chimneys, fireplaces and vents should be inspected at least once a year, with cleaning done if it is needed. With 94.3% of homes here heating with gas, that inspection covers the furnace and water heater flue too, not only the fireplace. Book it outside chimney swift nesting season, which in Illinois runs from spring through September.

Do chimney contractors have to be licensed or registered in Argyle?

The county application has fields for general, electrical and other contractors, but we found no county contractor registration requirement. Illinois does not license general contractors at the state level. Illinois has no state chimney sweep license that we could find; roof and flashing work can fall under the state roofing license.

Chimney due for a sweep in Argyle?

Tell us the address, what you burn and when the chimney was last swept. We reply with a price before any work is scheduled.