Fireplace installation in brief
Fitting a new fireplace starts with where it can go and how it will vent. The unit has to match an existing chimney or a new vent path. From there the job covers setting the firebox or unit, fitting the damper or liner the design calls for, and connecting everything so the fireplace can be used safely. For a gas unit, that includes the gas connection and the vent. Gas fireplace and gas appliance work is offered, and we work on all major brands. Our fireplace installation service explains the full process, from estimate to first fire.
What Des Plaines building rules mean for a new fireplace
Two items from the City of Des Plaines Community and Economic Development department affect fireplace planning. The first is the code edition the city works from. The second is a detector requirement that can apply when work is done in an existing home.
The 2021 I-Codes, including the International fuel gas code
The City of Des Plaines' Building and Permits page states that City Council approved adoption of the 2021 I-Codes on December 15, 2025, including the International Fuel Gas Code, effective January 1, 2026. (Source: City of Des Plaines Community and Economic Development, Building and Permits.)
This matters most if you want gas. The International Fuel Gas Code covers gas piping, appliance connections and venting, so a gas fireplace is planned to the edition the city adopted. That shapes the choice of unit, where the vent can exit and how the gas supply reaches the fireplace. If you are still deciding on a vent type, read our guide to direct vent vs ventless gas fireplaces before the estimate visit. Then check that the unit you like fits what the city will review.
Hardwired, interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
The City of Des Plaines' residential permit and inspection guidelines state that where alterations, repairs or additions occur in existing homes, the entire residence must have hardwired, interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. (Source: City of Des Plaines Community and Economic Development, Permit & Inspection Guidelines: Residential Kitchen Remodel (Non-Structural).)
That wording comes from the city's guideline for kitchen remodels. Ask the building department whether your fireplace project counts as an alteration or addition under the same requirement. If it does, and your home has battery-only or unconnected detectors, the whole house may need an upgrade before the work can pass inspection. Detector wiring is electrician's work, so find this out early. That way an electrician can be lined up and the fireplace installation isn't held up waiting on it.
Before the installation is scheduled
- Decide between gas and wood-burning, or come to the estimate with both in mind
- Ask the City of Des Plaines which permits and inspections your fireplace project needs
- Confirm whether the hardwired, interconnected detector requirement applies to your project
- Check what detectors your home has now and whether they are hardwired and interconnected
- For gas, compare vent types so the unit you choose suits your home and the adopted fuel gas code
When a new fireplace is the right job, and when it isn't
A full installation fits when there is no fireplace in the room yet, or when an old unit is being replaced with something new. If you already have a masonry fireplace and mainly want better heat, a fireplace insert may suit you better. If the fireplace you have is cracked, drafting poorly or leaking, repair work is usually the better place to start. Converting a wood-burning fireplace to gas is another option. All of these can be discussed at the same estimate visit.
Booking your fireplace installation
Read how fireplace installation works from start to finish, or browse the services we offer in Des Plaines if your chimney or fireplace needs other work too.
Sources (1)
The sources of the Des Plaines facts on this page.
- 1City of Des Plaines Community and Economic Development - Building and Permits; City of Des Plaines Community and Economic Development - Permit & Inspection Guidelines: Residential Kitchen Remodel (Non-Structural)
