Chimney Sweep in Roscoe, IL
Updated
Roscoe in short
- 4,202
- households in Roscoe
- 2001
- median year built (county 1971)
- 3.2%
- of homes built before 1960 (county 35.5%)
- 90.1%
- heat with utility gas (county 83.5%)
The local numbers
How old the homes are in Roscoe
Roscoe has more new housing than the county as a whole. 52.6% of its 4,312 homes were built in 2000 or later, against 13.6% county-wide, for a median year built of 2001. Only one of the 13 Winnebago County communities has a higher share of homes built since 2000. Newer homes more often have a gas fireplace or a factory-built chimney in a framed chase, and the weak point on those is the chase cover and cap rather than mortar joints.
Of 4,202 occupied homes in Roscoe, 90.1% use utility gas as their main heat (county: 83.5%). The Census counts 7 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.
On outdoor fires, Roscoe sets its own limits. The village code enforcement FAQ says yard waste grown on the property may be burned at any time of year if the weather is suitable, the fire is attended at all times and water is on hand. 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 here run through the Winnebago County Building Division, not a city or village desk. 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.
Roscoe housing and households vs Winnebago County
| Measure | Roscoe | Winnebago County |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 10,706 | 283,292 |
| Housing units | 4,312 | 125,002 |
| Occupied (households) | 4,202 | 116,014 |
| Owner-occupied households | 2,991 (71.2%) | 76,408 (65.9%) |
| Renter households | 1,211 (28.8%) | 39,606 (34.1%) |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1971 |
| Built before 1940 | 1.2% | 15.5% |
| Built before 1960 | 3.2% | 35.5% |
| Built before 1980 | 9.1% | 63.4% |
| Built 2000 or later | 52.6% | 13.6% |
| Single-family detached | 66.9% | 70.4% |
| Mobile homes | 3.5% | 1.3% |
| Main heat: utility gas | 90.1% | 83.5% |
| Main heat: electricity | 9.7% | 12.6% |
| Main heat: wood | 7 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 Roscoe
- 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 Village of Roscoe, Village Hall, 10631 Main Street, (815) 623-2829, permits@roscoeil.gov, issues zoning permits ("Alteration or addition" is on its list) and tells residents to contact Winnebago County Planning and Zoning at 815-319-4350 for building permits. The County Building Division lists the Village of Roscoe among the municipalities it serves. The village says zoning permit review takes "up to two (2) weeks" during peak construction season. Whether chimney work needs the zoning permit is not stated, so ask when you call. source 1 source 2 source 3
- Code edition
- Roscoe's building permit and inspections come from the County Building Division, so the county's codes list applies: the codes page (last modified February 20, 2025) says the division follows the 2015 International Residential Code. That listing looks old next to the statewide baseline that began January 1, 2025, so confirm the edition with the Building Division. source 1 source 2
- Contractor rules
- Village code Chapter 110 says "General contractors and construction managers shall be required to register with the village." We did not retrieve the registration terms (fee, insurance). source
- Outdoor burning
- The village code enforcement FAQ says yard waste grown on the property may be burned at any time of year if the weather is suitable, the fire is attended at all times and water is on hand. source
- Fire department
- Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District, office (815) 623-7867. source
About Roscoe. Roscoe is a village on the Rock River with 10,983 residents at the 2020 census. Wikipedia
ZIP codes. 61073 (93% of its land), 61080 (6% of its land), 61072 (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.
Chimney work
Chimney jobs homeowners ask about in Roscoe
Common questions
Roscoe chimney sweep questions
Does chimney work need a permit in Roscoe?
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 Roscoe?
The village code enforcement FAQ says yard waste grown on the property may be burned at any time of year if the weather is suitable, the fire is attended at all times and water is on hand.
Which fire department covers Roscoe?
Harlem-Roscoe Fire Protection District, office (815) 623-7867.
How old are the chimneys in Roscoe?
The Census does not count chimneys, but it does date the homes. Per the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, the median home in Roscoe was built in 2001 (Winnebago County: 1971). 1.2% of its 4,312 homes were built before 1940 and 3.2% before 1960, against 35.5% county-wide.
What does a chimney sweep cost in Roscoe?
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 Roscoe 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 90.1% 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 Roscoe?
Village code Chapter 110 says "General contractors and construction managers shall be required to register with the village." We did not retrieve the registration terms (fee, insurance). 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 Roscoe?
Tell us the address, what you burn and when the chimney was last swept. We reply with a price before any work is scheduled.