Personal Use Dead and Downed Firewood Permit Conditions

The free personal woodcutting program has been extended until further notice. Permits and tags are not required, however, customers must have a copy of woodcutting regulations and a woodcutting map in their possession and follow those regulations when cutting. Personal use firewood may not be sold or exchanged; up to 12 cords may be cut per calendar year.

Commercial firewood cutting requires a permit. No green trees may be cut for commercial or personal fuelwood.

  1. This wood gathering authorizes felling of dead trees within 100 feet of a Plumas NF system road or trail designated for wheeled motor vehicle use (See Firewood Map and the Plumas National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map) & removal of dead or down wood from the Plumas NF EXCEPT: 1-Areas closed to woodcutting as shown on the attached Woodcutting Map or posted as "Cutting Prohibited"; 2-Active commercial timber harvest or other commercial operations; 3-Forest Service recreation sites, trailheads, or Wild & Scenic River areas; 4-Dead trees or logs that are designated with paint or official Forest Service signs; 5-Within 200 feet of a railroad or transmission line; 6-Felling of hardwoods (dead or alive) on the Beckwourth RD.
  2. Wood gathering does not authorize cutting or removal of wood from private land. It is the wood gatherer's responsibility to determine land ownership.
  3. Cutting live trees is prohibited.  A standing dead conifer has no green needles. A standing dead hardwood has no leaves, no live buds, AND no live bark on any portion of the trunk/bole. Wood shall be removed in lengths less than 10 feet. (36CFR261.10(l) and 36CFR261.6(a))
  4. Personal use firewood gathering is restricted to a maximum of 12 cords per person during the calendar year. Products removed are intended for personal use by the wood gatherer and not to be sold or exchanged.
  5. Do not cut standing dead trees in which wildlife are actively nesting, denning, or roosting [Trees with large nests made of sticks; trees with large and small cavities (holes or hollows) with: birds or bats moving in-and-out; trees with whitewash (bird feces) on the tree trunk or ground below the cavity; trees with regurgitated pellets of fur and bone at the base; or trees marked with wildlife tree tags].  Do not remove dead downed logs that have hollow centers that extend more than 3 feet in depth (even those in cull decks). (36CFR261.8(a))
  6. Chainsaw use may be restricted or prohibited. It is the responsibility of the wood gatherer to obtain the Woodcutting Status each day prior to cutting by calling 1-800-847-7766. Chainsaws shall be equipped with an approved spark arrester, and are subject to inspection by a Forest Officer. (Regional Order 91-1) (36CFR261.52 (j)). An approved fire extinguisher or round point shovel (overall length not less than 46 inches) shall be located within 25 feet of chainsaw operations or when using any type of portable gas powered equipment (PRC 4431) (36CFR261.52g).
  7. Active wood gathering to retrieve cut firewood may include driving up to a max of 100 feet off a NF system road or trail designated for wheeled motor vehicle use on the current Plumas National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map. This permit DOES NOT authorize off road motor vehicle use to scout or look for firewood material or driving beyond 100 feet off a NF system road or trail designated for wheeled motor vehicle use on the current Plumas National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map (36 CFR 261.13) Motorized vehicle use off of NF system roads or trail is governed by the Forest Off-Highway Vehicle policy, existing Forest closure orders, existing road closures, or any Forest fire restrictions. It is the permittee's responsibility to determine if and when they are allowed to drive off system roads to retrieve cut firewood (36CFR261.10(l)). When driving off road, permittee must not damage or unreasonably disturb the land, wildlife, or vegetation resources (36 CFR 261.15h). Please be aware of any Forest fire restrictions and exercise caution when driving and parking your vehicle off road to retrieve cut firewood in or near dry vegetation.
  8. Do not drive on roads or off road during wet soil conditions when rutting or damage would occur. Do not drive across flowing or dry stream channels or on meadows. Vehicle traffic near streams shall not affect channel banks. Do not drive on soft or steep slopes where unreasonable soil movement may occur. You may be cited for any damage that may occur. (36CFR261.12 (c))
  9. Use of tractors, skidders, loaders, yarders, or other similar equipment used to move firewood is prohibited under this permit (36CFR261.6(h)). No skidding of any kind is allowed under this permit.
  10. Do not cut firewood within historic or prehistoric cultural sites or within posted control areas. It is illegal to damage or destroy historic and prehistoric cultural resources /sites and/or to remove artifacts from federal lands. Cultural resources/sites include, but are not limited to: standing and collapsed buildings, old mining sites (shafts, ditches, hydraulic pits, etc.) old logging sites (railroad grades, log chutes, camp sites, etc.), historic refuse deposits, flake stone scatters, bedrock mortars or grinding rocks, village sites (housepits, midden soils, etc.) and petroglyphs (rock art). If there is any question regarding the identification of cultural resources, contact the appropriate Forest Service Ranger District Office for further information. (36CFR261.9(g) and 36CFR261.9(h))
  11. Woodcutting requirements on the Lassen NF vary substantially from the Plumas NF & must be followed when removing wood within Lassen Zones 3, 4, or 5. Wood removal within the Lassen Zones require the permittee to possess and abide by the Lassen Firewood Cutting Requirements and Lassen Firewood & Christmas Tree Cutting Map (36CFR261.6(a)).

Commercial Use Dead and Downed Firewood Permit Conditions

  1. COMMERCIAL SALE OF FIREWOOD IS ALLOWED ON THIS PERMIT.
  2. This permit authorizes felling of dead trees within 100 feet of a Plumas NF system road and removal of dead or down wood from the Plumas NF EXCEPT: 1-Areas closed to woodcutting as shown on the attached Woodcutting Map or posted as "Cutting Prohibited"; 2-Active commercial timber harvest or other commercial operations; 3-Forest Service recreation sites, trailheads, or Wild & Scenic River areas; 4-Dead trees or logs that are designated with paint or official Forest Service signs; 5-Within 200 feet of a railroad or transmission line; 6-Felling of hardwoods (dead or alive) on the Beckwourth RD.
  3. This permit does not authorize cutting or removal of wood from private land. It is the permittee's responsibility to determine land ownership.
  4. Cutting live trees is prohibited.  A standing dead conifer has no green needles. A standing dead hardwood has no leaves, no live buds, AND no live bark on any portion of the trunk/bole. Wood shall be removed in lengths less than 10 feet (36CFR261.10(l) and 36CFR261.6(a)).
  5. The Plumas NF Woodcutting Map is attached and made a part of this permit. Commercial use firewood permits are restricted to a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 30 cords per permit. Each load ticket (firewood tag) represents 1/4 cord of wood. Using an ink pen, the permittee is required to fill out the product quantity removal record on the permit with the date, time, and quantity removed prior to transporting your wood in order for the firewood tags to be valid.  In addition, each firewood tag must have the date and time of departure punched, must be securely attached to the load, and must be clearly visible from the rear of the vehicle. Permit, maps, & tags shall be available for review at the request of a Forest Service, CDF, State or Federal Law Enforcement Officer. (36CFR261.10(l))
  6. Do not cut standing dead trees in which wildlife are actively nesting, denning, or roosting [Trees with large nests made of sticks; trees with large and small cavities (holes or hollows) with: birds or bats moving in-and-out; trees with whitewash (bird feces) on the tree trunk or ground below the cavity; trees with regurgitated pellets of fur and bone at the base; or trees marked with wildlife tree tags].  Do not remove dead downed logs that have hollow centers that extend more than 3 feet in depth (even those in cull decks). (36CFR261.8(a))
  7. Chainsaw use may be restricted or prohibited. It is the responsibility of the permittee to obtain the Woodcutting Status each day prior to cutting by calling 1-800-847-7766. Chainsaws shall be equipped with an approved spark arrester, and are subject to inspection by a Forest Officer. (Regional Order 91-1) (36CFR261.52 (j)). An approved fire extinguisher or round point shovel (overall length not less than 46 inches) shall be located within 25 feet of chainsaw operations or when using any type of portable gas powered equipment (PRC 4431) (36CFR261.52g).
  8. This permit authorizes permittees that are actively engaged in loading cut firewood to drive 100 feet off a NF system road or trail designated for wheeled motor vehicle use on the current Plumas National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map. This permit DOES NOT authorize off road motor vehicle use to scout or look for firewood material or driving beyond 100 feet off a NF system road or trail designated for wheeled motor vehicle use on the current Plumas National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map (36 CFR 261.13) Motorized vehicle use off of NF system roads or trail is governed by the Forest Off-Highway Vehicle policy, existing Forest closure orders, existing road closures, or any Forest fire restrictions.  It is the permittee's responsibility to determine if and when they are allowed to drive off system roads to retrieve cut firewood (36CFR261.10(l)). When driving off road, permittee must not damage or unreasonably disturb the land, wildlife, or vegetation resources (36 CFR 261.15h). Please be aware of any Forest fire restrictions and exercise caution when driving and parking your vehicle off road to retrieve cut firewood in or near dry vegetation.
  9. Do not drive on roads or off road during wet soil conditions when rutting or damage would occur. Do not drive across flowing or dry stream channels or on meadows. Vehicle traffic near streams shall not affect channel banks. Do not drive on soft or steep slopes where unreasonable soil movement may occur.  You may be cited for any damage that may occur. (36CFR261.12 (c))
  10. Use of tractors, skidders, loaders, yarders, or other similar equipment used to move firewood is prohibited under this permit (36CFR261.6(h)). No skidding of any kind is allowed under this permit.
  11. Do not cut firewood within historic or prehistoric cultural sites or within posted control areas. It is illegal to damage or destroy historic and prehistoric cultural resources/sites and/or to remove artifacts from federal lands. Cultural resources/sites include, but are not limited to: standing and collapsed buildings, old mining sites (shafts, ditches, hydraulic pits, etc.) old logging sites (railroad grades, log chutes, camp sites, etc.), historic refuse deposits, flake stone scatters, bedrock mortars or grinding rocks, village sites (housepits, midden soils, etc.) and petroglyphs (rock art). If there is any question regarding the identification of cultural resources, contact the appropriate Forest Service Ranger District Office for further information. (36CFR261.9(g) and 36CFR261.9(h))
  12. This permit does not authorize cutting or removal of wood from private land or any other forest, but the Plumas National Forest. It is the permittee's responsibility to determine land ownership.