Bezirksschornsteinfeger werden

You would like to receive an authorization to become a district chimney sweep? To do so, you must be appointed by the competent authority. You can find out more here.

Anyone wishing to be authorized as a district chimney sweep requires an appointment by the competent authority.

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

Applicants may be appointed as an authorized district chimney sweep if they possess the requirements under craft law for the independent practice of the chimney sweeping trade. Applicants are selected on the basis of their suitability, qualifications and professional performance.

The advertised sweeping districts are published at www.service.bund.de.

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

• Curriculum vitae in tabular form, giving precise details of previous professional training and professional career
• Proof of meeting the requirements for entry in the register of skilled trades with the chimney sweep trade
• Certificates with grades of the journeyman's examination and the master craftsman's examination or of equivalent qualifications; in the case of a professional qualification acquired in another member state of the European Union or a contracting state to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or Switzerland, the documents and certificates to be submitted in accordance with § 6 EU/EEA Handicraft Regulation
• Proof of previous chimney sweeping activities and job-related further and advanced training measures

• declaration of consent to obtain information from the central commercial register
• a current declaration that the health suitability for the takeover of a district and execution of the chimney sweeping work is present
• a declaration stating whether the applicant has been convicted of a criminal offence within the last twelve months, whether criminal proceedings are pending or whether the applicant is aware of any pending preliminary proceedings
• Declaration of consent to obtain a certificate of good conduct from the police
• Declaration as to whether the applicant
  • is or was the owner of a district
  • to which supervisory authority the sweeping district belongs,
  • whether the appointment has been suspended or revoked in the last 3 years prior to publication of the advertisement, or whether supervisory measures have been taken or initiated during this period in accordance with Section 21 (3) SchfHwG, and
  • that, in the event of a positive decision on this application, an existing appointment will be relinquished

• from current or former district holders, a declaration of consent to request for inspection the personnel file at the authority to which the applicant is or was appointed
• written and signed statement that no other application has been submitted to any other agency, and if so, to which other agency
• if more than one district is being advertised or if the status of an authorized district chimney sweep is being advertised: an indication of the ranking of preferred districts
• Proof of work in a company certified according to the quality seal "Fachbetrieb des Schornsteinfegerhandwerks" (specialized company of the chimney sweeping trade) or comparable individually certified company; if applicable, subdivided according to work in the own company and employee or employee in an external company. The 3 years prior to publication of the invitation to tender are decisive, whereby only full years as a self-employed person or full months as an employee are taken into account. Unemployment periods of up to 2 months are fully recognized for employees.
• Proof of additional qualifications, e.g. business economist in the trade, certified business economist according to HwO, building energy consultant, fire protection technician, completed job-related university studies (e.g.: supply engineering; environmental engineering, technical building equipment), training authorization in the chimney sweeping trade
• profession-specific further training in the last 7 calendar years before publication of the invitation to tender as well as in the year of the invitation to tender

In order to be appointed as a district chimney sweep, you must meet the requirements under craft law for the independent practice of the chimney sweeping trade and prove your suitability, your qualifications and your professional performance on the basis of the application documents submitted.

Is based on the respective administrative fee regulations of the state or on the fee statutes of the bodies responsible under state law.

• Once you have submitted the application and all the documents are complete, the competent authority checks whether you meet all the requirements.
• If you meet all the requirements, the competent authority will rank the applicants and make the selection between them.
• The appointment is then made ex officio and must be made public.
• It is then notified to the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control for entry in the chimney sweep register.

Country-specific tender deadlines exist.

The appointment of the authorized district chimney sweep shall be limited to seven years, but shall expire no later than the end of the month in which the appointed person reaches the age of 67. An authorized district chimney sweep may not reapply for appointment for at least two years after the appointment takes effect.

Administrative law action

Objection (depends on the respective state law)

• District chimney sweep appointment
• An authorized district chimney sweep is a person who has been appointed by the competent authority for a district; applicants who meet the requirements under the law on trades for the independent practice of the chimney sweeping trade may be appointed as authorized district chimney sweeps; The competent authority shall make the selection between the applicants on the basis of their suitability, ability and professional performance; it shall determine the ranking of the applicants on the basis of these criteria; the appointment of the authorized district chimney sweep shall be limited to seven years, but shall end at the latest at the end of the month in which the appointed person reaches the age of 67. Age completed
• Responsible: Depends on the respective state law

Depends on the respective national law

• Forms: Online form via chimney sweep application portal
• Online procedure possible: yes
• Written form required: no
• Personal appearance required: no