Shawnee National Forest: Firewood Permits (2026)
Price posted
How to get a personal-use firewood permit on the Shawnee National Forest in Illinois: what it costs, how much you can cut, when, and the key rules.
Quick facts
- Price: $5 per CCF, 4 CCF minimum ($20).
- How much: 4 CCF minimum, 20 CCF maximum per person for up to one year.
- Season: Valid up to one year from the date issued, or until you collect what you bought.
How much does it cost?
- $5 per CCF, 4 CCF minimum ($20).
How much wood can I cut?
- 4 CCF minimum, 20 CCF maximum per person for up to one year.
When can I cut?
- Valid up to one year from the date issued, or until you collect what you bought.
How do I get a permit?
What's E-Permits? It's the Forest Service's own online permit website. You pick your forest, pay (or get a free permit), and print it. Most forests say a printed copy is required.
- Buy online through E-Permits or in person at any district office or the Forest Supervisor's Office.
Rules to know
- Dead and down wood only.
- No standing trees, dead or alive.
- Pieces may be no longer than 8 feet.
- Use only designated motorized roads.
- The official page describes 4 CCF as both "approximately four cords" and "roughly equivalent to 5 cords".
Before you go
- Check fire restrictions the day you cut. Chainsaw use is often limited or banned in hot, dry weather.
- Cut only on National Forest land in open areas, never on private, state, tribal or BLM land.
- Stay on open roads. Use the forest's Motor Vehicle Use Map.
- Keep firewood local. Moving it can spread insects and diseases that kill trees.
What to bring:
- Your permit and load tickets or tags (printed, if bought online)
- A chainsaw with a working spark arrester, or a hand saw or ax
- A shovel and a fire extinguisher (many forests require them)
- Gloves, eye and ear protection, and sturdy boots
- A truck or trailer that can carry the weight (a full cord can weigh thousands of pounds)
Cutting a Christmas tree? See the Shawnee Christmas tree permit page.
Sources
More firewood in Illinois: All forests · Illinois state page
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.