Firewood Permits
Individuals camping on the National Forests in Florida are welcome to collect dead and down wood for their evening campfire without a permit. No standing trees may be cut - dead or alive - of any size.
Individuals who wish to collect firewood to burn at home or on private property must acquire a firewood permit. Firewood may only be collected in the designated areas provided with the firewood permit. Each firewood permit allows for the collection of up to 4 CCF (approximately four full-size pickup truck loads or four cords). The permit is valid for cutting dead and down wood only.
A standard firewood permit allows you to cut wood for personal use only. A special use permit may be required to collect firewood in bulk or for commercial purposes.
Purchase a Firewood Permit Online
The Special Forest Product E‑Permits portal is a secure and convenient way to purchase U.S. Forest Service special forest product permits online. With E-Permits, you can purchase and print a permit using a computer or mobile device from the comfort of your home.
Purchase a Firewood Permit In-Person
Firewood permits are available to purchase in-person at any of our District Offices. The Forest Supervisor's Office does not issue firewood permits. Please call ahead to make an appointment and confirm availability.
National Forests in Florida Firewood Permit Maps
Firewood Permit FAQs
The National Forests in Florida have two firewood permits available.
Firewood Free use permits - are available to harvest dead and down conifers (pine species such as sand, slash, loblolly, and long leaf pines).
Firewood permits - $5/CORD with a minimum purchase of four CORDS. The minimum purchase cost for a firewood permit is $20. Firewood Permits are for those that harvest dead and down hardwoods (for example oak species).
Firewood is measured in units of CORDS. One CORD of wood is roughly equivalent to the amount of tightly stacked wood 4 feet wide by 4 feet high by 8 feet long.
The maximum removal limit is 8 CORDS per individual per calendar year (January 1 through December 31).
This permit will terminate either at midnight on the termination date shown on your permit, or when the quantity you have purchased is reached, whichever comes first.
A printed physical permit must be in the permittee's possession and kept readily available while harvesting and transporting products.
- This permit is non-transferable.
- A copy of the permit on a mobile device is not acceptable.
- Multiple reproductions of this permit are not allowed.
If you would like to designate a second cutter, contact the local District Office.
When searching for firewood in the National Forests in Florida, review forest and map list of Prohibited Areas & Restrictions before planning your trip to harvest. Be sure to only use designated motorized roads and be aware of seasonal road closures. Maps and restrictions may be updated periodically throughout the lifecycle of your permit and can be obtained online and at ranger district offices.
The designated harvest area is limited to within 100 feet of the clearing limits of roadways and parking areas.
You CANNOT harvest within:
- Wilderness areas
- Administrative sites
- Highway easements
- Along established hiking trails
- Designated campgrounds
- Active timber sales or commercial fuelwood blocks
Important Note: Privately owned lands and state in-holdings within national forest boundaries are closed to harvest. The boundaries between private/state lands and federal lands are not always marked. It is the permittee's responsibility to know where you are harvesting at all times.
If you have questions about specific areas, contact the local District Office.
The following MAY be harvested:
- Firewood free use - dead and down conifer trees (pine species such as sand, slash, loblolly, and long leaf pines).
- Firewood – dead and down hardwoods such as oak species.
The following MAY NOT be harvested:
- Live trees
- Standing dead trees
- Trees with paint marks, signs, or national forest tags
- Firewood shall not be moved in piece lengths longer than 6 feet.
- Do not drive off road when ground conditions may cause excessive rutting or ground damage.
- The use of portable sawmill equipment, large capacity hydraulic boom loaders, and large capacity truck/trailer combinations is prohibited.
- The use of tractors, rubber-tired skidders, ATVs/OHVs or similar vehicles, or other equipment to move firewood is prohibited.