Chimney Sweep (Rauchfangkehrer)
Key Facts
- Type: Regulated trade — Zuverlaessigkeitsgewerbe!
- Special: District-based system (Kehrgebiet)
- Qualification: Master exam (Meisterpruefung)
- Registration cost: Free (€0)
- Start immediately: NO — must wait for official approval
- Public function: Fire safety inspections
The District System (Kehrgebiet)
Austria operates a unique district-based system for chimney sweeps:
- Each chimney sweep is assigned a specific geographic district
- Assignments are made by the provincial government (Landesregierung)
- The system guarantees coverage across all areas, including rural ones
- Competition within a district is limited (geographic monopoly)
- This system is periodically debated but remains in place
What This Trade Covers
- Chimney cleaning and maintenance
- Fire safety inspections of combustion systems
- Issuing fire safety certificates (Befund)
- Carbon monoxide safety checks
- Consulting on heating system efficiency
Vollstaendige deutsche Version →
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't chimney sweeps start working immediately?
Chimney sweep is a Zuverlaessigkeitsgewerbe (reliability trade). The authority must verify personal reliability before issuing approval.
How does the district system work for chimney sweeps?
Each sweep is assigned a geographic district by the provincial government. This guarantees coverage but limits competition.
Qualification: how to prove it
Rauchfangkehrer is a regulated trade under §94 Z.50 of the Austrian Trade Act (GewO 1994). The standard route is the master craftsman exam (meisterprüfung).
- Examined by: Meisterprüfungsstelle WK
- Exam modules: 5
- Exam fee: €0 — exam fees are covered by the federal government
If you cannot sit the exam, these routes are open to you:
- Individual assessment under §19 GewO
- Appointing a qualified managing director
Registering the trade
- Cost: Free — registration itself carries no fee
- Where: District administrative authority (Bezirksverwaltungsbehörde)
- Decision within: max. 3 months
- Typically takes: 1-5 Werktage (bei vollstaendigen Unterlagen)
- Start trading: immediately on registration — you do not have to wait for the decision
You can register in these ways:
- Online via GISA (the trade register)
- Online via USP (the business service portal)
- In person at the authority
Who may register
- Minimum age: 18
- Citizenship or residence: Austria, EU, EEA or Switzerland
- Clean record: no disqualifying convictions (checked by the authority)
Documents to bring
- Photo ID
- Master craftsman certificate (Meisterprüfungszeugnis)
- Criminal record certificate
Terms shown in German are the ones printed on the Austrian forms — you will meet them exactly like this at the authority.
Where to go, by province
| Province | Competent authority |
|---|---|
| Vienna | MA 63 |
Legal basis: GewO 1994 §94 Z.50 . Last reviewed April 2026. This is not legal advice.