During the cooler evenings of late summer, many British Columbians are once again starting to light wood stoves or fireplaces to help keep their homes warm. However, people who are planning to cut firewood must make sure they are harvesting it legally.

Cutting down trees on Crown land without an appropriate permit, or selling any such firewood, is an ongoing concern in British Columbia. This activity is illegal and could result in a violation ticket and fine. It could also create safety hazards for recreationalists and other forest users, and negatively affect ecosystems — including fish and wildlife habitats.

Cutting or collecting firewood:

Anyone who would like to cut or collect firewood on vacant Crown land for personal use can obtain a “Free Use Permit for Firewood” online:

• Selkirk Natural Resource District:
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/dkl/Tenures/FirewoodPermit2014.pdf
• Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District:
  http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/ftp/drm/external/!publish/web/forms/firewoodfup.pdf

Application forms are also available at local FrontCounter BC offices.

The permit application must be filled out, signed and carried by the permit holder at all times while cutting or transporting firewood. It must be produced at the request of a Natural Resource Officer, Conservation Officer or peace officer.

• Only dead conifer trees and live or dead deciduous trees may be cut.
• Firewood collected with a “Free Use Permit for Firewood” permit must be for personal use only. The amount of cut wood must not exceed five cords and the wood cannot be sold for profit.
• Additional details about firewood cutting can be found on the “Free Use Permit for Firewood” application form.
• Failure to follow the regulations may result in immediate cancellation of the permit, forfeiture of any cut timber and/or a fine of $173.

Purchasing firewood:

The public can do its part to stop illegal harvesting by purchasing firewood only from legitimate producers who sell wood obtained either on private land or through authorized Crown land harvesting tenures.

• Anyone buying firewood should ask where the firewood comes from (Crown land or private land) and ask for a record of purchase.
• For firewood harvested on private land, the buyer should ask the seller for the district lot number and timber mark number.
• For firewood harvested on Crown land, legitimate commercial firewood producers should have a “Forestry Licence to Cut” document signed by the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations district manager (with an approved timber mark).
• Firewood that is bought or sold without proper documentation can be seized by Natural Resource Officers.

Learn More:

Unauthorized timber harvesting falls under Section 52 of the Forest and Range Practices Act: http://www.bclaws.ca/Recon/document/ID/freeside/00_02069_01

For more information or to report a suspected violation, contact a local natural resource district office or call FrontCounter BC at 1 877 855-3222.

Media Contacts:

Greig Bethel
Media Relations Officer
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261