Fuelwood
The San Bernardino National Forest allows wood products to be gathered and collected with a permit.
Project Activity Level (PAL)
To obtain daily San Bernardino National Forest PAL Levels, call (909)-382-2997.
Wood Permit Calendar
The San Bernardino National Forest's fuelwood gathering season runs from April 1st to March 31st each year.
Last day to use 2024/2025 permits. (Red Load Tickets)
April 1, 2025: First day to purchase and use 2025/2026 permits. (Blue Load Tickets)
Basic Rules and Regulations:
- The San Bernardino National Forest Personal Use Fuelwood Permit is for your own use or the use of your immediate family for domestic purposes.
- The permit is only valid for cutting and gathering dead & downed wood on lands administered by the San Bernardino National Forest
- Our firewood permit is not valid on private property or on adjacent National Forests. Location availability maps will be provided with permit.
- Permits are $20 per cord with a minimum purchase of 2 cords.
- Maximum purchase allowed is 10 cords per individual, per season.
- Permits are NOT refundable.
- All forest products transported must have load ticket completed and attached to load. Forest products (fuelwood) from private property or purchased cannot be transported without a bill of sale, or written permit (California Penal Code 384.5).
- Permit issuance and use may be restricted due to conditions and fuelwood availability. Check with local Ranger Station for most current restrictions or closures.
- Use of chainsaws (gas or electric) will be restricted on days posing high fire danger. Permittee MUST check PAL Levels prior to their trip. Handsaws/axes can be used on days where chainsaws are not allowed or restricted.
- Chainsaws must have a US Forest Service approved spark arrester.
- Permittee must have a serviceable round point shovel no less than 46 inches in length, and an approved ABC class fire extinguisher (min. 3lb) within 25 feet of the cutting area.
- Permittee must report any fire immediately – Dial 911
A standard, full cord of wood is a volume of 128 cubic feet, measured as a pile 8 feet long, 4 feet high and 4 feet wide. A full cord can weigh up to 5,000 pounds.
How to measure a cord of wood based on how high you stack the wood in your standard 1-ton truck bed.
Small pickup truck — ¼ ton
With or without racks, this truck bed holds approximately ½ cord of wood. One load ticket required.
Short bed pickup truck — ½ ton
With or without racks, this truck bed holds approximately ½ cord of wood. One load ticket required.
Long bed pickup truck — ½ or ¾ ton
Without racks, this truck bed holds approximately ½ cord of wood. One load ticket required.
With racks, this truck bed holds approximately 1 cord of wood. Two load tickets required.
Standard truck — 1 ton
With high racks, this truck bed holds approximately 1½ cords of wood. Three load tickets required.
How to Obtain a Permit
In Person
Please contact your local office for permit availability and to ensure a Collection Officer is available to issue permits. Permit availability/hours varies by location.
- San Bernardino National Forest Supervisors Office
- 602. S Tippecanoe Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92408
- 909-382-2600
- San Jacinto Ranger District
- 54270 Pine Crest Ave. , Idyllwild, CA 92549
- 909-382-2921
- Front Country Ranger District
- 1209 Lytle Creek Road, Lytle Creek CA 92358
- 909-382-2851
Email Request
(Allow 2-3 weeks for email submissions to be processed)
Email to:
Fill out the form and submit to the email above.
Mail-in Request can be sent to:
(Allow 2-3 weeks for permits to be processed and mailed out)
Fill out the form and mail in. (Requests will not be processed if the form is not submitted with mail -in request)
- San Bernardino National Forest Supervisors Office
Attn: Front Desk/Collection Officer
602. S Tippecanoe Ave
San Bernardino, CA 92408
- San Jacinto Ranger District
Attn: Front Desk/Collection Officer
P.O. Box 518
Idyllwild, CA 92549
- Front Country Ranger District
Attn: Front Desk/Collection Officer
1209 Lytle Creek Road
Lytle Creek CA 92358