Key takeaways
- Permits are required to cut and remove forest products from BLM land.
- The BLM says its online system sells fuelwood permits for participating field offices, subject to availability and season, and purchases are final.
- A 2017 Carson City District release said only dead trees, standing or down, could be cut, and wood was for personal use only.
- Carry the permit and map while you cut, and confirm current terms with the BLM before you buy.
"Where can I cut my own firewood?" The answer starts with a permit, a map and a short list of rules.
How do I get a BLM firewood permit?
The BLM's Forest Product Permit System says permits are required to cut and remove forest products from BLM land. The site lets the public buy fuelwood and Christmas tree permits for participating field offices, subject to availability and season. You select your state, choose the field office that matches the area where you plan to cut, pick the product and quantity, pay through Pay.gov, then download and print the permit to carry in the field. The site states that purchases are final and no refunds are given.
Other forest products may be available through the local office. Call the BLM Carson City District office if you are not sure which field office covers your area.
What did the Carson City District say about the rules?
A BLM Carson City District release from September 2017 said permits covered pinyon pine and Utah juniper, only dead trees, standing or down, could be cut, and permits were valid for 90 days. It said maps of authorized cutting areas and stipulations are provided when permits are purchased, and that cutters must have the permit and map in their possession. The release set purchase and annual limits and said a commercial permit is required to cut more than the personal limit.
That release is nine years old. Treat it as a picture of how the program worked then, not as current terms. Prices, limits, species and season dates are for the BLM to confirm.
What about National Forest land?
National Forest land has its own permit system and rules, and they differ from BLM's. We have not verified current Humboldt-Toiyabe terms for this page, so contact the Forest Service district office that covers the area you plan to cut. Do not assume a BLM permit is valid there.
What else should I know before I cut?
Cutting dead standing wood is chainsaw work on uneven ground, often alone and far from help. Bring a map, water, a way to call for help and the right protective gear. We do not give chainsaw instructions here. If you would rather buy firewood, our firewood and wood chips service is available, and the office can tell you what is available when you call 775.232.8243.
Moving firewood between regions can spread pests, so read don't move firewood: the Nevada rules. Burn rules apply in Washoe County: see Washoe County burn codes.
Where do I store the wood I cut?
The UNR Extension Living With Fire guide says to keep firewood at least 30 feet from any structure. See how to season and stack firewood for storage and how big is a cord of wood for measuring.
Sources
- Bureau of Land Management: Online Forest Product Permits (read October 17, 2026)
- Bureau of Land Management, Carson City District: BLM firewood permits available at multiple locations (news release, September 27, 2017) (read October 17, 2026)
- University of Nevada, Reno Extension: Living With Fire Defensible Space Guide (SP-23-07) (read October 17, 2026)