Procedure descriptions

Appointment as district chimney sweep

Anyone wishing to be authorised as a district chimney sweep must be appointed by the competent authority.

The job of authorised district chimney sweep is publicly advertised. This means that chimney sweeps must apply for one or more sweeping districts that become vacant or for the position of authorised district chimney sweep.

Applicants can be appointed as authorised district chimney sweeps if they have the legal qualifications to practise the chimney sweeping trade independently. Applicants are selected on the basis of their suitability, ability and professional performance.

Responsible authority

In Baden-Württemberg, the Stuttgart Regional Council is responsible for the tendering and selection procedure for authorised district chimney sweeps.

Details

Prerequisite

In order to be appointed as a district chimney sweep, you must fulfil the legal requirements for the independent practice of the chimney sweep trade and, on the basis of the submitted application documents

  • Your aptitude,
  • Your qualification and
  • Your professional performance.

Procedure

Once you have submitted the application and all documents are complete, the competent authority will check whether you fulfil all the requirements.

If you fulfil all the requirements, the competent authority will rank the applicants and make a selection between them.

The appointment is then made ex officio and must be publicised. The Federal Office of Economics and Export Control will then be notified for entry in the chimney sweep register.

Deadlines

The appointment of the authorised district chimney sweep is limited to seven years, but ends at the latest at the end of the month in which the appointed person reaches the age of 67. An application to extend the appointment beyond the age limit until the end of the seven-year appointment period can be submitted to the competent authority no later than six months before the age limit is reached. However, the appointment ends at the latest at the end of the month in which the person reaches the age of 70.

An authorised district chimney sweep may not reapply for appointment until at least two years after the appointment becomes effective.

Required documents

The competent authority shall specify in the invitation to tender which documents must be submitted. In particular, the competent authority may require the submission of the following documents:

  • the written or electronic application containing the surname, first names, address, telephone number and electronic contact details of the applicant,
  • the curriculum vitae in tabular form, which contains detailed information on the applicant's professional education and career,
  • proof of fulfilment of the requirements for entry in the Register of Craftsmen,
  • the certificates of the journeyman's examination and the master craftsman's examination or equivalent qualifications; in the case of a professional qualification obtained in another Member State of the European Union, in a signatory state to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or in Switzerland, the documents and certificates that must be submitted in accordance with the EU/EEA Crafts Regulation,
  • proof of previous chimney sweeping activities and of professional training and further training measures,
  • the declaration of consent to obtain information from the central trade register or the submission thereof, as well as the submission of a simple police clearance certificate,
  • a declaration as to whether any criminal offences have been committed against the applicant within the last twelve months prior to publication of the advertisement
    • criminal convictions have been handed down against the applicant,
    • criminal proceedings are pending, or
    • a pending investigation or trade prohibition procedure has become known,
  • the applicant's statement on the ranking of preferred districts,
  • proof of current activity as an authorised district chimney sweep or as a representative pursuant to Section 11b of the Chimney Sweep Crafts Act (SchfHwG) or a declaration that no such office is held, and

Costs

The costs are based on the fee schedule of the respective city or district that makes the order.

Processing time

If the documents are complete, the application will be processed promptly.

Miscellaneous

The advertised sweeping districts in Baden-Württemberg are published on the federal service website and on the website of the Stuttgart Regional Council.

Without an appointment as an authorised district chimney sweep, the associated sovereign activities may not be carried out.

Legal basis

Gesetz über das Berufsrecht und die Versorgung im Schornsteinfegerhandwerk (Schornsteinfeger-Handwerksgesetz-SchHwG):

  • § 10 Bestellung und komissarische Verwaltung

Gesetz zur Ordnung des Handwerks (Handwerksordnung)

  • § 6

Release note

Machine generated, based on the German release by: Wirtschaftsministerium Baden-Württemberg, 25.08.2025