Personal-use firewood permits on national forests
Cut your own firewood on a national forest. Here is what a personal-use permit costs on 41 forests, how much you can cut, and how to get one. Every fact links to the forest's official page.
How does a firewood permit work?
- You need a permit to take firewood home from a national forest. Small amounts of dead and down wood for a campfire at your campsite usually don't need one.
- Personal-use permits are for your own home. You can't sell the wood.
- Many forests in Oregon, Washington and Montana give personal-use permits for free (17 forests on this site). Others charge about $2 to $10 per cord (or per CCF), often with a $20 minimum.
- Many forests now sell permits online through E-Permits, the Forest Service's own permit website. Others issue them only at ranger offices or local stores.
- Most permits allow only dead trees, set a top cord limit, and come with a map of open cutting areas.
Compare forests
| Forest | Price | How much | Online? | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coconino (AZ) | $5 per cord for oak, aspen, juniper and maple. | Up to 12 cords per household per year (paid permits). | Office / vendor | Price posted |
| Kaibab (AZ) | $20 for 10 cords (paid permit). | Up to 20 cords per year (paid). | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Klamath (CA) | $5 per cord, $20 minimum per transaction. | Up to 12 cords per calendar year. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Lassen (CA) | $20 for 10 cords ($2 per cord) in 2026. | 10-cord purchase. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Arapaho and Roosevelt (CO) | $10 per cord on the E-Permits listing. | 2-cord minimum, 10-cord maximum (E-Permits listing). | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (CO) | $5 per cord. | 4 cords minimum, 20 cords maximum. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Pike and San Isabel (CO) | Not posted. | Sold per cord. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price not posted — ask the district |
| White River (CO) | Not posted on the official page. | Not posted on the official page. | Office / vendor | Price not posted — ask the district |
| Sawtooth (ID) | $6.25 per cord, 4-cord minimum. | 4 cords minimum, 10 cords maximum per household. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Shawnee (IL) | $5 per CCF, 4 CCF minimum ($20). | 4 CCF minimum, 20 CCF maximum per person for up to one year. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Hiawatha (MI) | $20 per permit. | Not stated on the forest page. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Huron-Manistee (MI) | $4 per cord. | 5 cords minimum, 15 cords ($60) maximum per year. | Office / vendor | Price posted |
| Ottawa (MI) | $20 per permit. | 4 CCF minimum, 12 CCF maximum per person per year (4 CCF is about 5 full cords). | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Chippewa (MN) | $20 ($5 a cord, 4 cords). | 4 cords per $20 permit. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Superior (MN) | $20 for 4 cords. | 4 cords per $20 permit. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Mark Twain (MO) | $20 per permit for 4 CCF. | 4 CCF per permit. | Office / vendor | Price posted |
| Flathead (MT) | Free for personal use. | Not stated on the current page. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Kootenai (MT) | Free for personal use. | Not stated on the current page. | Office / vendor | Price posted |
| Lolo (MT) | Free for personal use. | Up to 12 cords. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| White Mountain (NH) | $20 for 2 cords, then $10 for each extra cord. | 2 cords minimum, 5 cords maximum per calendar year. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Deschutes (OR) | Free for personal use. | Up to 8 cords per household per year. | Office / vendor | Price posted |
| Fremont-Winema (OR) | Not posted on the forest's page. | Not posted on the forest's page. | Office / vendor | Price not posted — ask the district |
| Malheur (OR) | Free for personal use (free-use permit). | Up to 8 cords per household per year. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Mt. Hood (OR) | Free for personal use. | Up to 6 cords per household per year. | Office / vendor | Price posted |
| Ochoco (OR) | Free for personal use. | Up to 8 cords per household per year. | Office / vendor | Price posted |
| Rogue River-Siskiyou (OR) | Free for personal use. | Up to 10 cords per household per year, forest-wide. | Office / vendor | Price posted |
| Siuslaw (OR) | Free for personal use. | 1–3 cords over 20 days, or up to 6 cords over 40 days. | Office / vendor | Price posted |
| Umatilla (OR) | Free for personal use. | Up to 12 cords per household per year. | Office / vendor | Price posted |
| Umpqua (OR) | Free for personal use. | Up to 10 cords. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Wallowa-Whitman (OR) | Free for personal use. | Up to 10 cords per household per year. | Office / vendor | Price posted |
| Willamette (OR) | Free for personal use. | Up to 6 cords per household per year. | Office / vendor | Price posted |
| Dixie (UT) | $5 per cord, $20 minimum purchase. | Up to 12 cords. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Manti-La Sal (UT) | $5 per cord, four-cord ($20) minimum. | 4 cords minimum, 10 cords maximum per household. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Uinta-Wasatch-Cache (UT) | 4 cords for $30 (minimum). | 4 cords minimum, 10 cords ($75) maximum per household. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Green Mountain (VT) | $10 per cord, $20 minimum (2 cords). | 2 cords minimum, 10 cords maximum. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Colville (WA) | Free for personal use. | Up to 12 cords per household. | Office / vendor | Price posted |
| Gifford Pinchot (WA) | Free for personal use. | Up to 6 cords per household per year, forest-wide. | Office / vendor | Price posted |
| Okanogan-Wenatchee (WA) | Free for personal use. | Not stated for free personal-use permits on the official page. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Olympic (WA) | Free for personal use. | Up to 6 cords per person per calendar year. | Office / vendor | Price posted |
| Chequamegon-Nicolet (WI) | $5 per cord. | 4 cords minimum, 12 cords maximum per person per year. | Yes (E-Permits) | Price posted |
| Monongahela (WV) | $20 per permit. | Up to 5 cords, on one ranger district. | Office / vendor | Price posted |
Arizona
- Coconino National Forest: $5 per cord for oak, aspen, juniper and maple
- Kaibab National Forest: $20 for 10 cords (paid permit)
California
- Klamath National Forest: $5 per cord, $20 minimum per transaction
- Lassen National Forest: $20 for 10 cords ($2 per cord) in 2026
Colorado
- Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests: $10 per cord on the E-Permits listing
- Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests: $5 per cord
- Pike and San Isabel National Forests: price not posted
- White River National Forest: price not posted
Idaho
- Sawtooth National Forest: $6.25 per cord, 4-cord minimum
Illinois
- Shawnee National Forest: $5 per CCF, 4 CCF minimum ($20)
Michigan
- Hiawatha National Forest: $20 per permit
- Huron-Manistee National Forests: $4 per cord
- Ottawa National Forest: $20 per permit
Minnesota
- Chippewa National Forest: $20 ($5 a cord, 4 cords)
- Superior National Forest: $20 for 4 cords
Missouri
- Mark Twain National Forest: $20 per permit for 4 CCF
Montana
- Flathead National Forest: free
- Kootenai National Forest: free
- Lolo National Forest: free
New Hampshire
- White Mountain National Forest: $20 for 2 cords, then $10 for each extra cord
Oregon
- Deschutes National Forest: free
- Fremont-Winema National Forest: price not posted
- Malheur National Forest: free
- Mt. Hood National Forest: free
- Ochoco National Forest: free
- Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest: free
- Siuslaw National Forest: free
- Umatilla National Forest: free
- Umpqua National Forest: free
- Wallowa-Whitman National Forest: free
- Willamette National Forest: free
Utah
- Dixie National Forest: $5 per cord, $20 minimum purchase
- Manti-La Sal National Forest: $5 per cord, four-cord ($20) minimum
- Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest: 4 cords for $30 (minimum)
Vermont
- Green Mountain National Forest: $10 per cord, $20 minimum (2 cords)
Washington
- Colville National Forest: free
- Gifford Pinchot National Forest: free
- Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest: free
- Olympic National Forest: free
West Virginia
- Monongahela National Forest: $20 per permit
Wisconsin
- Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest: $5 per cord
Price not confirmed: Pike and San Isabel, White River, Fremont-Winema. Their official pages explain how to get a permit but don't post a price.
Looking for a Christmas tree instead? Compare Christmas tree permits.
Independent site. Forest Permit Finder is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the USDA Forest Service or Recreation.gov. Permit rules change; always check the official page before you go. Information last verified Oct 2026.