Firewood
To be Used on the Forest – No Permit Required
Individuals camping on the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests may collect firewood without a permit while camping. The wood collected must be dead and down and used for campfires only. No standing trees may be cut –dead or alive—of any size. No wood can be taken home or to private land.
To Be Removed from the Forest – Permit Required
Individuals who wish to collect firewood on the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests to burn at home or on private property must purchase a firewood permit. Firewood may be collected only in the permitted areas with the firewood permit.
Purchase a Firewood Permit
Firewood permits are now available online through the USDA E-Permits system.
Or purchase in person by contacting the nearest Ranger Station.
Permits
Firewood permits are available on both the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests. Firewood permits are intended to be used for personal use.
Fees and Availability
Firewood permits are issued for:
- A minimum charge of $20 (2 cords*) at $10 per cord.
- A maximum volume of 10 cords.
*1 cord of wood is measured as 4 feet wide, by 4 feet high, by 8 feet long, of tightly stacked wood.
The permit is assigned only to the purchaser. When firewood is harvested or transported, the permit holder must be present with the original permit and a photo ID.
How to Purchase a Permit
Permits may be purchased online through the “USDA E-Permits” page or in person at the nearest Ranger Station.
What Can I Cut?
Firewood cutting is permitted for dead-and-down trees only. No standing-dead trees are to be harvested, and no live trees may be cut without written permission.
Manchester Ranger District Only: Designated standing live trees may be harvested on National Forest Land within 30 feet of Forest Road 71 (Airport Rd.) in the Towns of Stratton and Somerset, from August 16th through May 14th. Designated trees are marked with yellow paint on the stump and at eye level. Slash/natural debris resulting from harvest must be removed from the traveled roadway and ditches and lopped and scattered to lie no more than 2 feet from the ground. Stumps must not exceed 10 inches in height.
Where Can I/Can't I Cut Firewood?
On the National Forest
Firewood permits purchased for use on the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests permit the harvesting of firewood only on the stated National Forests. There are areas of private and other landownership within the boundaries of the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests. Firewood permits do not permit the harvesting of firewood on private or other land ownerships. It is the responsibility of the permittee to ensure that they are harvesting firewood on National Forest land.
Roads
Firewood cutting is permitted along any road that is open for motor vehicle use identified on the Motorized Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) with the exception of those roads that traverse an otherwise prohibited area, such as Research Natural Areas, Candidate Research Natural Areas, Wilderness Areas, administrative sites, and developed recreation sites. Travel Management Rules must be followed.
Firewood may only be taken within 150 feet of the edge of the open road. The use of tractors, rubber-tire skidders, ATVs, and similar vehicles is not allowed.
Water Sources
Do not cut trees within 100 feet of wetlands, beaver ponds, lakes, streams, or rivers.
Timber Sales
Firewood gathering must be done without interfering with timber sale operations. Prior to removing firewood from a timber sale area (normally marked with paint on the trees and having signs of active or recent cutting) contact the nearest Ranger Station for locations within the timber sale area where firewood gathering can occur. District offices can provide information about timber sale areas where logging slash is available for firewood.
Transporting Firewood
Transport of firewood is subject to State regulations and firewood should not be moved more than 30 miles from its source to prevent the spread of invasive tree pests. It is prohibited to move untreated firewood across state lines in Vermont or New York.