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Firewood quarantine FAQs

Firewood quarantine FAQs

Beginning January 1, 2027, it no longer will  be permissible for anyone to bring untreated firewood into Michigan. Under the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s firewood quarantine, only firewood that has been heat-treated and certified will be permitted to enter Michigan.

How will the quarantine impact travelers, campers and firewood producers?

MDARD has provided answers to frequently asked questions to help these groups and others understand the new quarantine and its requirements.

Frequently asked questions about Michigan's firewood quarantine

  • Why is Michigan establishing this quarantine?

    Firewood that is not certified and heat-treated can harbor insects and plant diseases that are difficult to detect and can be transported long distances. Once an invasive pest becomes established, controlling or eradicating it can be extremely difficult and costly. The quarantine is intended to prevent those pests from entering Michigan in the first place.

  • What types of pests and diseases are we trying to keep out?

    More than 140 plant pests and diseases can be moved in firewood, including Asian longhorned beetle, spotted lanternfly, oak wilt and balsam woolly adelgid.

  • Why is untreated firewood considered a risk?

    Firewood is difficult to inspect because pests and pathogens can be hidden beneath bark or inside the wood and may not be visible. Moving infested firewood can introduce pests to new areas where they may become established.

  • Why is this important to Michigan?

    Michigan's forests and agricultural resources provide significant economic and environmental benefits. They support industries, communities, tourism and recreation. Preventing invasive pests from becoming established helps protect those resources and reduces future costs associated with managing infestations.

  • When does the quarantine take effect?

    The quarantine will take effect on January 1, 2027.

  • Does this mean no one can bring firewood into Michigan from another state?

    Under the quarantine, only firewood that has been heat-treated and certified will be permitted to enter Michigan. The firewood must be certified by MDARD, another state agriculture department, or the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Firewood may enter Michigan if it bears a label indicating it has received an approved treatment. 

  • What types of wood are exempt?

    Kiln-dried dimensional lumber and wood chips no larger than one inch in two dimensions are exempt from Michigan’s firewood quarantine. Certain raw wood products transported directly to facilities for immediate processing are also exempt, including material going to sawmills, veneer mills, pulp and paper mills, wood pellet manufacturers, firewood kiln operators and certain biomass and composite-product facilities.

  • Does the quarantine apply to lumber for construction?

    Kiln-dried dimensional lumber is exempt from Michigan’s firewood quarantine.

  • Does the quarantine apply to wood pellets?

    Wood pellets are exempt from Michigan’s firewood quarantine. Raw wood transported to wood pellet manufacturers for immediate processing is also exempt.

  • Why regulate firewood when other wood products can enter Michigan?

    The quarantine is specifically focused on firewood because it is a high-risk pathway for moving forest pests and diseases. Certain commercial wood-processing pathways are exempt from the quarantine because the wood is immediately processed through methods that reduce the risk of pests surviving or spreading.

  • What does “properly treated” mean?

    Properly treated firewood has been heat-treated in a certified kiln. The firewood must reach a minimum core temperature of 140°F for at least 60 minutes. The kiln must be certified by MDARD, another state’s agriculture officials or the USDA Department of Agriculture.

  • What is a certified firewood kiln?

    A certified firewood kiln has undergone inspection and testing and demonstrated that it can heat firewood to a minimum core temperature of 140°F for 60 consecutive minutes.

  • Is kiln-dried firewood automatically exempt from the quarantine?

    No. Unless the producer has had their kilns certified by MDARD, another state’s agriculture department or the U.S. Department of Agriculture and can provide the certification seal, the firewood does not meet the requirements. Producers may use kilns to remove excess moisture from wood, but this does not mean they have reached the required core temperature or maintained the temperature long enough to kill invasive insects and plant diseases.

  • How do I know if firewood has been properly treated?

    Properly treated firewood that has been certified will bear a certification stamp or seal on the label from an authorized agricultural official from a state’s department of agriculture or the USDA.

  • Can I bring firewood from my property in another state to my Michigan property?

    No, unless it is properly heat-treated and certified before transport. The quarantine bans all firewood that has not been certified from entering Michigan.

  • Does this apply to campers and people traveling to Michigan?

    Yes, the quarantine applies to everyone entering the state of Michigan.

  • How does this impact the transportation of firewood from Canada?

    Since 2008, the USDA has required all firewood entering the United States from Canada be heat treated. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers inspect firewood of all species from Canada and will check for documentation that it meets current federal requirements.

  • What should campers do to follow the quarantine?

    When you purchase firewood, look for the state or USDA certification symbol on the firewood’s packaging. MDARD recommends purchasing firewood within 10 miles of where you plan to burn it. If you have leftover firewood, leave it behind. This reduces the chance of transporting pests to a new location.

  • Does the quarantine apply to firewood sold at stores or gas stations?

    Yes, the quarantine applies to all firewood that has not been certified and is collected or purchased outside of Michigan. If you are purchasing firewood for a trip to Michigan, check the package first to see if it bears a certification seal or label from the USDA, MDARD or the authorized agricultural official of the state of origin. Travelers are encouraged to purchase firewood at or near their destination.

  • What happens if someone brings untreated firewood into Michigan?

    During the first year of the quarantine, the departments will focus on providing education. Beginning January 1, 2028, violators will receive a warning letter; repeat violations may result in fines of not less than $1,000 and up to $10,000, or not more than $500 if the person voluntarily reports the violation, as authorized under Act 189 of 1931.

  • Have other states implemented similar quarantines?

    Yes. Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah and Vermont allow only certified, heat-treated wood to enter their states. Note that each state may have different requirements for certification.

    Several states regulate firewood movement from other states with active quarantines for invasive tree pests and diseases like emerald ash borer, spotted lanternfly and mountain pine beetle. States with limited quarantines include Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

    Travelers should always check state regulations before moving firewood. Find state-by-state information at DontMoveFirewood.org.