Permits

Campfire permits are required for campfires, charcoal fires, and portable gas stoves outside designated recreation sites. Permits are free and available at all Forest Service, BLM, and CAL FIRE offices, as well as online at https://readyforwildfire.org/permits/.

Personal use Christmas tree cutting permits

Christmas tree permit sales are currently closed but typically go on sale in early November. Christmas tree cutting in the National Forest is managed as a recreational experience. It is a chance to head out into the woods and cut a tree the old-fashioned way.

A permit must be purchased, limited to one permit per household. When you purchase online at Recreation.gov, you have the option to purchase up to three trees. The cost is $10 per tree, and there is a $2.50 transaction fee for online purchases. The number of permits is limited and will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

Once you make a purchase on recreation.gov, you will need to download, print and bring your permit with you. If you purchase online, you will NOT be getting a colored tag to attach the tree. It is important that you print your permit and have it visible on your car dashboard.

You will also need to download the Christmas tree cutting map from recreation.gov. The best way to use the map is to download it to your smartphone for offline use. The permit does not allow cutting on any private lands, Wilderness areas, or in late successional reserve areas (to protect wildlife habitat).

Fourth graders with a valid 'Every Kid in a Park' Voucher or Pass are entitled to one free Christmas Tree Tag. 

In-person and mail order options also available

Permits can also be purchased by mail or in person at one of the locations listed below. To purchase a permit by mail, please use the Mail Order Form and include the name, mailing address, phone number, and a check or money order for each permit purchased. Checks should be made out to USDA Forest Service. The cost is $10 per permit. Mail the form and check to either the Willows or Upper Lake office (see address listed at the bottom of this page). Write "Christmas Tree Permit" on the outside of the envelope. Mail order requests received after December 14 will not be fulfilled. Please note: If purchasing in person, individuals can purchase one permit per household and one tree per permit. They will receive the permit and map packet and a tag to attach to a tree. The tag will need to be signed by permittee to verify that they read the rules and requirements of the permit. 

Persons must be at least 18 years old to purchase the permit. All Christmas tree permit sales are final; no refunds will be made. Christmas tree cutting will be allowed only in specific areas in the Mendocino National Forest. Permits may be used to cut a tree in any authorized area within the Mendocino National Forest. 

Permit holders who will be having another person cut and transport their tree must provide a Third Party Authorization. The person cutting and transporting the tree must have your permit, tree tag and the third-party authorization form with them when they are in the forest cutting your tree.

Prevent the Spread of Sudden Oak Death

Federal and State quarantines designed to prevent the spread of Sudden Oak Death are in effect for Lake and Mendocino Counties. Any Christmas tree cut in Lake or Mendocino County can only be transported within the Sudden Oak Death quarantine counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Marin, San Francisco, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Sonoma).

Christmas Tree Safety

To ensure that your visit to the Mendocino National Forest is an enjoyable experience, please follow these important tips:

• Plan your trip: check the weather forecast, bring plenty of warm clothes, water, emergency food, tire chains, shovel, a saw or axe to cut your tree, and a tarp and rope to bring it home. Make sure you have a full tank of gas when you leave and are prepared for changing conditions in the mountains! Also, let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back.
• Keep vehicles on designated roads and be aware of changing weather and road conditions. Wet dirt roads can quickly turn to mud, making it possible to get stuck and causing damage to road, soil and water resources. If there are puddles in the road, mud flipping off the tires or you can see your ruts in the rearview mirror, consider pulling over and taking a hike to look for a tree, or turning around and finding a different area to cut your tree. Be aware of safety hazards when travelling through a burned area.
• Cut the tree early in the season before higher elevations become snowbound.
• Make sure you are cutting a tree on the Mendocino National Forest and not on other federal, state or private lands.
• Cut the tree as close as possible to the ground and leave as short a stump as possible.
• Attach the permit on the tree where it will be easily visible with the tree packed or tied on your vehicle for transport home.
• To help keep your tree fresh, cut at least one inch off the base when you get home and stand the tree in a container of water in a cool, shaded area, checking the water level daily.

Locations to Purchase Christmas Tree Permits (in-person)

If you choose not to purchase a Christmas tree permit online, there are several options for in-person purchases. Please call the office or vendor where you plan to purchase your permit BEFORE you leave to check hours and availability. Christmas tree permits are available from the following forest offices and vendors.

Forest Offices

Mendocino National Forest Supervisor’s Office
825 N. Humboldt Ave.
Willows, CA 95988
(530) 934-3316
Open Mondays and Tuesdays only

Stonyford Work Center
5171 Stonyford-Elk Creek Rd
Stonyford, CA 95979
530-963-3128

Upper Lake Ranger Station
10025 Elk Mountain Rd.
Upper Lake, CA 95485
(707) 275-2361

Covelo Ranger Station
78150 Covelo Road
Covelo, California 95428
(707) 983-6118

Vendors

Upper Lake Grocery
160 E. Hwy 20
Upper Lake, CA 95485
(707) 275-4018
Christmas tree permits available the week before Thanksgiving

M&M Feed
74540 Hill Rd.
Covelo, CA 95428
(707) 983-6273

Keith’s Family Foods
76201 Covelo Rd.
Covelo, CA 95428
(707) 983-6633

Covelo Volunteer Fire Department
75900 Covelo Rd.
Covelo, CA 95428
(707) 983-6719

Sacramento River Discovery Center
1000 Sale Ln
Red Bluff, CA 96080
(530) 527-1196

It is important to note that not all national forests offer the opportunity to obtain Christmas trees for personal use, and each national forest has different sale dates. Please check with the national forest in which you are interested to learn about the specifics of their program. 

For more information, please call (530) 934-3316.

How the Forest Service manages filming and photography authorizations changed with the passage of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act (PDF, 389 KB), also referred to as the EXPLORE Act. The law defines when a permit is needed based on group size and the effect on resources rather than the commercial intent of the project. More info, including frequently asked questions on filming and photography, is available online.

Specialty Forest Products

Forest products can include decorative floral greens, mosses, cones, berries, Christmas trees and boughs, posts, poles and burls. The availability of special forest products varies by location. Like other forest resources, they must be carefully managed to protect them and ensure a lasting supply for the future. Permits are issued for many products and a minimal fee may be charged. Contact one of our offices to see what permits are required.

Remember: All commercial uses or removal of products on public lands require a permit.

Bonsai Permits

Small growing saplings can be collected and transformed into Bonsai trees.  The trees are $10 a piece, with a minimum purchase of $20 per transaction.

Mushroom Collecting for Personal Use

Incidental collecting of mushrooms for personal use is allowed up to one gallon per person per month. No permit is needed for incidental collecting. Collecting is not allowed in Wilderness Areas. Permits for commercial mushroom collecting are not available at this time.

Mushroom collecting is weather dependent, and road access in the winter is limited. Please do not drive on forest roads during wet weather to minimize resource damage. Check Forest Alerts for closures and safety warnings.

2026 update: To cut firewood for personal use on National Forest System lands you must have a personal use firewood permit. Firewood permits are on sale April 23. Please avoid driving in the forest during storms to avoid hazardous forest road conditions and to minimize damage to native road surfaces. 

Personal use firewood permit details:

• $2 per cord for 2025 season, $20 minimum purchase for a permit
• 10 cord minimum
• 12 cord maximum per calendar year. If you plan to purchase 12 cords for the year, it is advised that you buy them in one transaction (12 cords for $24.00).
• Valid for calendar year (expires Dec. 31, 2026)
• Mail-in order form (expect approximately three weeks turnaround to receive permits and maps)

Important reminders:

• When fire restrictions go into effect, permittees will only be allowed to transport wood to a road and cut the wood there. The use of chainsaws will be allowed when cutting wood on roads.
• Keep your permit on the dashboard of your vehicle where it is visible through the windshield.
• Fill out the bottom portion of the permit at the cutting site before you haul each load.
• Travel together when hauling wood in more than one vehicle for the same permit.
• A lost or stolen permit cannot be replaced or the fee refunded.

For further information, contact the Supervisor's Office in Willows at (530) 934-3316. 

Contractor Activity Phone Line: This is an information only phone line for industrial operations and fire precautions. The 24-hour line is 530-934-1240. 

Sudden Oak Death quarantine

Federal and State quarantines designed to prevent the spread of Sudden Oak Death disease are in effect for Mendocino and Lake Counties. The quarantine prohibits the transportation of firewood, foliage and other potentially infested material outside of the counties in California that are under quarantine.

The policy on the Mendocino National Forest is that firewood or other host material cut in Mendocino and Lake Counties can move into and between any of the quarantine counties, it cannot be moved out of quarantine counties. The Counties under quarantine are: Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma Counties.

No firewood cutting is allowed on some areas of the forest because the road system leads into Glenn County which is outside the quarantine area. These areas are identified on the permit map.

How much is a cord of wood

Rules and regulations

1. The fuelwood permit map will direct you to areas where firewood is available and outlines areas where restrictions apply. Cut only dead and down material. Cutting of standing trees (dead or live) is prohibited. The maximum length for a piece of firewood that can be removed is 6 feet.
2. Refunds will not be made on permits.
3. In the spring and fall, roads may become muddy and impassable. Please contact a district or work center office for local road information.
4. Vehicles shall not be operated off roads and landings. Logs may be winched to roads or landings.
5. State of California fire laws shall be complied with:
   1. Each power saw shall be equipped with a spark arrester approved according to CPRC Section 4442 and shall be maintained in effective working order. (Inspection of spark arrester may be a condition of permit issuance.)
      • One fire extinguisher meeting specifications of CPRC Section 4431 shall be kept with each power saw. (A list of approved extinguishers is available at the permit issuing office.)
      • When using power saws off of cleared roads or landings, a size 0 or larger shovel with an overall length of not less than 46 inches shall be kept within 25 feet of the saw. One shovel per gas can is required.
   2. Smoking shall be done while sitting in an area cleared of all flammable materials. The area must be at least 3 feet in diameter. Burning material shall be extinguished and cold to the touch before it is discarded.
   3. As soon as feasible, permittee shall notify Forest Service of any fires discovered.
   4. Before cutting, permittee should contact a Forest Service office to see it any fire restrictions are in effect.
6. All slash, bark, or other debris is to be scattered along the side of the roads. Do not leave debris on road surfaces, in ditches, or above culverts.
7. Forest Service may suspend all operations under this permit in writing if the conditions and requirements contained in this permit are not followed. Failure to comply with permit requirements may result in termination of permit and/or a citation; 36 CFR 261.10(k) is punishable by a fine of no more than $500 and/or 6 months imprisonment.
8. Fuelwood gathering is permitted in restricted areas as follows:
   1. Areas posted "Firewood Cutting Area."
   2. All areas outside of the restricted areas are open to gathering dead and down fuelwood material with the following exceptions:
      • No cutting within 300 feet of any stream channel with water.
      • No cutting within 100 feet of stream channels without water.
9. Validation tags must accompany each load being transported. Each tag represents ¼ cord. The proper number of tags must be prominently displayed and securely attached to the rear end of each load. Dates must be punched. Failure to comply may result in citation and confiscation of your wood under authority of 36 CFR 261.10(k).
    

Commercial Use of Forest Development Roads is regulated under the authority of Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Region 5 Order 24-01 prohibits commercial haul on a Forest Development Road without a permit or written authorization.

Examples of commercial vehicles that may need a Road Use Permit to use Forest Development Roads are logging trucks, wood chip vans, or gravel trucks hauling from private lands across Forest Service lands on a Forest Development Road. This list is not all inclusive. There are also exceptions and special situations. If you feel you have an exception or special situation, please contact the appropriate District Office.

The following items outline the procedure for obtaining a Road Use Permit on the Mendocino National Forest.

Procedure to obtain a Road Use Permit

1. Fill out and return the Application for Road Use Permit (FS-7700-0040) to the appropriate Forest office.
2. Applications must contain the complete name, address, and phone number of the applicant, the Forest road(s) to be used, the quantity and commodity to be hauled, and the applicant's proposed schedule for use of the road(s).
3. Provide a map of legible scale, such as a USGS 7-1/2 minute quadrangle map, showing the Forest roads to be used.
4. Provide the volume to be hauled by road segment.
5. Bonds, when required, must be posted in advance of road use.
6. Estimated road maintenance collections must be paid upon presentation of a Bill for Collection; or, at the applicant's request, a payment bond may be posted.
7. Allow at least four weeks for processing and mail time for permit processing, after receipt of a completed application by the Forest Service. Complicated situations may take longer. Simple situations may take less.
8. The actual volume hauled must be submitted to the Forest Service no less than annually or, at other Forest Service approved intervals. Volumes shall be submitted in the form of log or weight scale records or other records satisfactory to the District Office.
9. Requests for extension, when needed, should be made prior to expiration of the original permit.

If you need help on a Road Use Permit Application…

For help with a Road Use Permit application, please contact the appropriate Forest Office.