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Fuelwood
Fuelwood
Harvesting fuelwood in state forests
The fuelwood season opens April 1 and collection permits are available for a $20 fee. Use our fuelwood maps to determine where firewood collection is allowed. Permits may be purchased online and by mail. They are also available for purchase at DNR Customer Service Centers and select forestry field offices in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula; call to confirm availability and business hours.
Permits are for up to five standard cords of wood. Wood must be dead and down within 200 feet of a road. Fuelwood cannot be resold or traded. Permits are valid for up to 90 days after the date they are issued; all expire Dec. 31.
Purchase a fuelwood permit online
Starting April 1, you can purchase a state forest fuelwood collection permit through our online licensing system. View and print your licenses, manage your customer profile and see purchase history all in one convenient location.
Mail-in permit application
Download a fuelwood permit application and print it to purchase a fuelwood permit by mail. Fill it out, enclose a $20 check payable to the State of Michigan, and send it to the DNR office which manages the state forest land where you wish to collect fuelwood. If approved, your permit will be emailed or mailed to you.
Fuelwood maps
Use our fuelwood map to determine where collection is allowed; contact your local permit-issuing office for details. New maps will be available April 1.
If you need assistance with interpreting the interactive map, please contact Jake Reid, ReidJ6@michigan.gov or call 517-284-5908.
How much wood is in a cord?
A standard cord is 8 feet long, 4 feet wide and 4 feet high.
Firewood, in non-packaged form, is sold by a measurement called a "cord" or "fraction of a cord." A cord is defined as 128 cubic feet when the wood is neatly stacked.
You may see the terms "ric," "face cord," or another local measurement. However, these terms have no standard measurements. Be sure to know the dimensions of the pile of wood being sold.
Frequently asked questions
Find answers to commonly asked questions about firewood collection. Download a fuelwood FAQ pdf for printing.