Chimney Sweep in Unincorporated Winnebago County, IL

Local rules

Permits, burning rules and fire service in unincorporated Winnebago County

This page covers the rural parts of the county outside any city or village, and its Census numbers are the summed estimates of the six townships with no city or village mostly inside them (Burritt, Harrison, Laona, Owen, Seward and Shirland). Those townships include the census-designated places Lake Summerset and Westlake Village, which also have their own pages, and a small part of Machesney Park, so the figures overlap. A median year built is not shown because medians cannot be summed. We found no primary-source permit page for Seward or Shirland themselves, and neither is on the County Building Division's list of municipalities served, so call the Building Division at 815-319-4350 to confirm.

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

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