Woodcutting permits for the Tahoe National Forest can be purchased beginning May 11.

The price for permits is $15 per cord with a two-cord minimum and an annual 10-cord maximum per household. Permits can be obtained at all TNF ranger stations, the forest headquarters or by mail. Applications for mail-in permits can be found online under “Passes and Permits”.

Firewood season will extend into the fall, until rain and snow traditionally make the roads impassable.

On the Yuba River Ranger District, woodcutting will end no later than Nov. 6 to protect hardwood trees that lose their leaves and may appear to be dead. The remainder of the forest will be open for cutting until Dec. 4, weather and road conditions permitting.

In general, the woodcutting permit allows removal of dead and down wood on TNF system lands unless otherwise designated. It does not allow cutting on private land. It authorizes removal of standing dead conifer trees within 200 feet of some roads. Trees may not be cut if marked with paint, wildlife signs, boundary signs, other official signs or in areas closed to woodcutting.

As summer progresses and the forest dries out, preventing fire is critical. Calling the woodcutting hotline is important to make sure that cutting is permitted that day. Wood cutters are also reminded that they are required to keep a serviceable shovel at least 46 inches long and an approved fire extinguisher (2 pound dry chemical or 1 pound foam type – ABC or greater) within 25 feet of where saws are being operated. All gasoline-powered saws and other internal combustion engines such as motorized splitters must have a USFS approved spark arrester installed. Transportation load tickets will be issued along with the permit.