Chimney Sweep in Machesney Park, IL
Updated
Machesney Park in short
- 8,577
- households in Machesney Park
- 1978
- median year built (county 1971)
- 22.6%
- of homes built before 1960 (county 35.5%)
- 91.1%
- heat with utility gas (county 83.5%)
The local numbers
How old the homes are in Machesney Park
Housing age in Machesney Park is close to the Winnebago County norm. The median home was built in 1978 (county: 1971); 22.6% of its 9,118 homes predate 1960 and 18.2% went up in 2000 or later.
91.1% of the 8,577 occupied homes in Machesney Park heat mainly with utility gas, and 7.3% with electricity. Only one of the 13 Winnebago County communities has a higher share of gas-heated homes. The Census counts 21 homes here that heat mainly with wood, 0.2% of the total. 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.
Outdoor burning in Machesney Park has its own rule. Leaves, limbs and brush grown on the property may be burned only in April and November, from sunup to 9 p.m., attended. Recreational fires must be in a fire-safe pit or ring, burn only untreated dry wood no more than 22 inches long and 11 inches across, sit at least 10 feet from any structure, be attended by an adult, and be out by midnight (Code Secs. 12-255 and 12-256). 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.
Permits in Machesney Park are handled locally. The village lists residential alterations and any plumbing, HVAC or electrical work as needing a building permit, so a stove, insert or gas insert install is permitted HVAC work. Chimney relining or rebuilding is not named; call the Building Division at (815) 877-6072.
Machesney Park housing and households vs Winnebago County
| Measure | Machesney Park | Winnebago County |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 22,630 | 283,292 |
| Housing units | 9,118 | 125,002 |
| Occupied (households) | 8,577 | 116,014 |
| Owner-occupied households | 6,827 (79.6%) | 76,408 (65.9%) |
| Renter households | 1,750 (20.4%) | 39,606 (34.1%) |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1971 |
| Built before 1940 | 3% | 15.5% |
| Built before 1960 | 22.6% | 35.5% |
| Built before 1980 | 54.4% | 63.4% |
| Built 2000 or later | 18.2% | 13.6% |
| Single-family detached | 87.7% | 70.4% |
| Mobile homes | 0.5% | 1.3% |
| Main heat: utility gas | 91.1% | 83.5% |
| Main heat: electricity | 7.3% | 12.6% |
| Main heat: wood | 21 homes (0.2%) | 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).
Local rules
Permits, burning rules and fire service in Machesney Park
- Chimney, stove and liner work
- The village lists residential alterations and any plumbing, HVAC or electrical work as needing a building permit, so a stove, insert or gas insert install is permitted HVAC work. Chimney relining or rebuilding is not named; call the Building Division at (815) 877-6072. source
- Permit office
- The Village Building Division, 300 Roosevelt Road, (815) 877-6072, lists "Residential additions and alterations" and any plumbing, HVAC or electrical work as needing a building permit, and takes residential applications online through Citizenserve. Siding and same-size window replacement, kitchen cabinets and countertops, and carpeting and flooring do not need one. Building inspections are performed by the City of Loves Park through a cooperative agreement, and the village gives instructions when the permit is issued; Loves Park's number is (815) 654-5033. source 1 source 2
- Code edition
- Ordinance 10-25, passed May 5, 2025, adopts the 2021 International Building Code, the 2020 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, the 2021 International Mechanical Code and the International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2021 edition. The village page says the 2024 IECC with Illinois amendments became effective November 30, 2025. We found no local amendment text. source 1 source 2
- Contractor rules
- We found no village general contractor registration. The permit page asks for license information when a contractor does the job (stated for roofing), and village code defines an electrical contractor as not including "homeowners who do their own work in their own home." source 1 source 2
- Outdoor burning
- Leaves, limbs and brush grown on the property may be burned only in April and November, from sunup to 9 p.m., attended. Recreational fires must be in a fire-safe pit or ring, burn only untreated dry wood no more than 22 inches long and 11 inches across, sit at least 10 feet from any structure, be attended by an adult, and be out by midnight (Code Secs. 12-255 and 12-256). Penalties run $50 to $500. source
About Machesney Park. Machesney Park is a village in Winnebago County with 22,950 residents at the 2020 census. Wikipedia
ZIP codes. 61115 (82% of its land), 61073 (9% of its land), 61011 (7% of its land), 61103 (2% of its land), 61111 (1% of its land). Census 2020
Full pricing, the complete service menu, and the rest of the service area are on the chimney sweep in Rockford, IL homepage.
Nearby, sharing a ZIP code with Machesney Park
Chimney work
Chimney jobs homeowners ask about in Machesney Park
Common questions
Machesney Park chimney sweep questions
Does chimney work need a permit in Machesney Park?
The village lists residential alterations and any plumbing, HVAC or electrical work as needing a building permit, so a stove, insert or gas insert install is permitted HVAC work. Chimney relining or rebuilding is not named; call the Building Division at (815) 877-6072.
Can I burn leaves or have a fire pit in Machesney Park?
Leaves, limbs and brush grown on the property may be burned only in April and November, from sunup to 9 p.m., attended. Recreational fires must be in a fire-safe pit or ring, burn only untreated dry wood no more than 22 inches long and 11 inches across, sit at least 10 feet from any structure, be attended by an adult, and be out by midnight (Code Secs. 12-255 and 12-256). Penalties run $50 to $500.
Which fire department covers Machesney Park?
The village lists the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District, (815) 623-7867, as its fire service, and the North Park Fire Protection District covers parts of the village; confirm the district by address.
How old are the chimneys in Machesney Park?
The Census does not count chimneys, but it does date the homes. Per the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, the median home in Machesney Park was built in 1978 (Winnebago County: 1971). 3% of its 9,118 homes were built before 1940 and 22.6% before 1960, against 35.5% county-wide.
What does a chimney sweep cost in Machesney Park?
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 Machesney Park 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 91.1% 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 Machesney Park?
We found no village general contractor registration. The permit page asks for license information when a contractor does the job (stated for roofing), and village code defines an electrical contractor as not including "homeowners who do their own work in their own home.". 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 Machesney Park?
Tell us the address, what you burn and when the chimney was last swept. We reply with a price before any work is scheduled.