Forest Products Industry (non Timber)
Firewood Permits
Year-Round Firewood Permits Now Available
- Starting in 2026, Manti-La Sal National Forest Firewood Permits are valid from January through December 31st or until the permit is filled.
- Firewood permits can be purchased in-person at your nearest Forest Service office or online.
- Firewood permits authorize a four-cord minimum purchase, and a ten-cord maximum purchase per household. A cord is defined as tightly piled wood in a stack four feet high by four feet wide by eight feet long.
- Fuelwood permits cost $5 per cord with a four-cord ($20.00) minimum purchase, and a ten-cord maximum per household. A valid permit is required prior to an individual collecting and removing any forest product, including fuelwood, from National Forest System lands. Please carefully review and understand your permit.
Post, Pole & Seed Permits
The Manti-La Sal National Forest issues post, pole, and seed permits valid from June through December each year. These permits are different than fuelwood permits and contain different guidelines in order to obtain material for posts, poles, and gathering seeds. Download the Post Permit Rules and the Seed Permit Rules.
Christmas Tree Permits
Christmas tree permits for the Manti-La Sal National Forest are available to purchase on recreation.gov from October through the middle of December.
Note: It is important to carefully read the overview and need-to-know information prior to purchasing the permit. Visitors will also need to set up or login to a recreation.gov account to complete the transaction.
Every Kid Outdoors - Free Tree!
Fourth graders with an Every Kid Outdoors Pass are eligible for a free holiday tree permit through their local National Forest. To obtain a free holiday tree permit, visit recreation.gov to apply using the Every Kid Outdoors pass by checking the box indicating you have a pass and entering the pass or voucher number.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
The permit terms and firewood map are part of your Personal Use Firewood Permit. It is your responsibility to cut your firewood in the place and manner authorized by your permit. The map issued with your permit identifies areas that are closed to firewood cutting. Each year, additional areas may be closed to firewood cutting for management purposes. These areas will be posted/signed on the ground, and information will be available at the district office. Firewood cutting is prohibited in wilderness areas, research natural areas, administrative sites, research areas, posted contract and “No Cutting” areas, and within 150 feet of campgrounds, recreation sites and resorts. All other lands on the Manti-La Sal National Forest are open to firewood cutting.
Reminders
- Please read your permit carefully
- Remember to fill out your Permit Removal Record and to use your Fuelwood Load Tags
- All Firewood permits expire on December 31st each year
General (Permit) Conditions
Subject to, and in strict compliance with, all the following conditions (both General and Other) and those listed above, the permittee named herein is authorized to harvest and remove the forest products described above.
Forest Service Manual 2404.24 grants the Regional Forester the authority to sell and dispose of timber and forest products in the volumes and values shown in FSM 2404.28, Exhibit 01.
- This sale is final and payments are not subject to refund.
- A printed physical permit must be in permittee's possession and kept readily available while harvesting and transporting products. A copy on a mobile device is not acceptable and multiple reproductions of this permit are not allowed.
- This permit is nontransferable.
- This permit and activities hereunder are subject to all applicable Federal statutes and regulations and State and local laws. In case of conflict, Federal statutes and regulations shall take precedence. Where applicable, a Memorandum of Agreement between the Forest Service and BLM governs administration and enforcement of this permit (Sec. 330, P.L. 106-291).
- Motorized vehicles are not allowed off existing roads that are open to the public, unless otherwise specified within this permit. Permittee parking shall not block traffic or impede fire or emergency vehicles.
- Permittee shall remove all trash and litter resulting from permittee's activities.
- Concurrent with forest product removal activities, slash and unused vegetative material resulting from permittee's activities shall be removed from roads and ditches and scattered in the surrounding landscape.
- Permittee shall comply with fire requirements and current restrictions to prevent forest fires.
- Permittee shall pay for or repair all damage to natural features; riparian areas; other vegetation; and roads, trails, fences, ditches, telephone lines, or other improvements resulting from permittee's activities under this permit.
- The Forest Service and/or BLM reserve the right to unilaterally revoke this permit for permittee's noncompliance with its terms and conditions or when revocation is in the public's interest.
- Regardless of whether forest products are removed, this permit will terminate either at midnight of the termination date shown on your permit, or when the quantity you have purchased on this permit is reached, whichever comes first.
- None of the terms or conditions of this permit may be varied or modified, except for unilateral modifications by the Forest Service and/or BLM.
- Permittee agrees to hold the Government harmless from any claim for damage or loss of property, personal injury, or death.
- Collection of forest products is permitted only in the area(s) described by this permit.
- Permittee shall complete the Product Quantity Removal Record in ink prior to transporting products. When load tickets are issued, the permittee is required to complete load tickets when permittee moves between collection sites or leaves a permit area. Load tickets must be securely attached to the load and clearly visible from the rear of the vehicle.
Other (Permit) Terms and Conditions
- The following are PROHIBITED:
- Harvesting firewood within 100-feet of streams, ponds, lakes, etc.
- Leaving any stump (cut by permittee) taller than 12-inches from the dirt on highest side.
- Hauling wood in lengths over 4-feet.
- Use of motorized equipment to skid or load wood.
- Use of a chain saw without a spark arrester.
- Cutting of ANY tree with paint marks, or official signs, in timber sale areas, administrative sites, range study areas, wildlife exclosures, and summer home areas.
- Operating a vehicle more than 150-feet from Forest roads (see District Motor Vehicle Use Map). In the Bears Ears National Monument NO motorized off-road travel to retrieve firewood is authorized.
- Permittee will lop and scatter all limbs of all trees. Limbs will be lopped to within 24-inches of ground level.
- It is permitted to cut only dead trees, standing or down.
- When harvesting and transporting firewood, permittees must have their permit and load tags in their possession.
- Load tags must be validated as described in the instructions included with your load tags.
- Each load tag is valid for a maximum of 1/2 cord and must be attached to the back of the load for every 1/2 cord or portion thereof when transporting.
- Load tags are not reusable and multiple reproductions are not allowed.
How large is a cord of wood?
A cord of wood is defined as 128 cubic feet of wood. Measurements are 4' high x 8' long x 4' deep.
- A full-size truck with an 8-foot bed will hold one cord of firewood if the wood is stacked to the top of the cab
- A small truck (¼ ton) with or without racks will hold approximately ½ a cord of firewood (Approx. 1331 lbs.)
- A short-bed truck (½ ton) with or without racks will hold approximately ½ a cord of firewood (Approx. 1331 lbs.)
- A long-bed truck (½ or ¾ ton) without racks, will hold approximately ½ a cord of firewood (Approx. 1331 lbs.)
- A long-bed truck (½ or ¾ ton) with racks will hold approximately 1 full cord of firewood (Approx. 2662 lbs.)
- A 1-ton truck with high racks will hold approximately 2 cords of firewood (Approx. 5324 lbs.)
How large is a cord of wood? Approximately 4' tall by 4' wide by 8' long.
How do I purchase a permit?
Permits are now valid for 12 months due to expire each year on December 31st or until the permit is filled. Permits can be purchased online anytime by visiting the USDA Forest Service ePermit site or in-person at your nearest Ranger District Office.
What is the charge for the permit?
The cost of a firewood permit is $5.00 per cord, with a $20.00 minimum/four cord purchase. If you want to purchase fewer than four cords, the fee is still $20.00. The maximum number of cords you can purchase per year is 10. Permits are non-refundable. If lose your permit, we can’t make a copy of it; you will have to purchase another one. When does my permit expire? Permits expire on December 31st, annually.
What type of firewood can I harvest?
It is permitted to cut only dead trees, standing or down.
Purchase firewood permits at the Monticello Ranger District office from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.- 4:30p.m. Monday, Thursday, and Friday.
Purchase firewood permits at the Moab office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Please call the front office prior to coming down to ensure we have personnel available to sell fuelwood permits on the days listed above. The two districts share one employee with the credentials to issue fuelwood permits - if this employee is sick or unavailable, fuelwood permits will not be sold. We are training additional personnel to get the necessary credentials so we can better serve the public. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
- Purchase Christmas Tree permits on recreation.gov from October through the middle of December.
- Fourth graders with an Every Kid Outdoors pass are eligible for a free holiday tree permit through their local National Forest. To obtain a free holiday tree permit, visit recreation.gov to apply using the Every Kid Outdoors pass by checking the box indicating you have a pass and entering the pass or voucher number.