Forest Service News Release
Media Contact:
Region 5 Media Desk
[email protected]
Personal-use firewood permit sales begin in May
(Bishop, CA, April 28, 2026) — Choose which firewood permit purchase works for you — online or in person. Permits are $15 per cord, with a minimum two-cord purchase. Most funds from firewood permit sales are returned to the forest for continued implementation of this program and the Inyo National Forest Fuelwood Strategy.
Online purchase starting May 1: Use a credit card to purchase firewood permits at epermits.fs2c.usda.gov. Print permit and wood tags before heading to the forest.
In-person purchase starting May 29: Bring a credit card to purchase firewood permits. Otherwise, make an appointment with Forest Service employees to buy tags with cash or check. Visitor center days, hours and locations listed below. Please call ahead to confirm availability.
Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center – Daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Highway 395 (at Mono Lake), Lee Vining or call (760) 647-3044
Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center – Daily 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
2510 Main St., Mammoth Lakes or call (760) 924-5500
White Mountain Public Lands Info Center – Friday and Saturday, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
798 N. Main Street, Bishop or call (760) 873-2500
Eastern Sierra Visitor Center – Thursday through Monday, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
Highway 395 and State Route136, Lone Pine or call (760) 876-6200
Everyone must carry permit, tags and firewood map and follow the regulations on the permit.
Firewood regulations: Do not drive over 100 feet from a designated road to collect firewood. Avoid driving on muddy roads to keep roads in good condition and protect natural resources. And park where your vehicle won’t block the flow of traffic.
Before cutting, make sure your surroundings are safe and clear of other people.
Always carry a shovel or fire extinguisher.
Leave dead and downed log diameters of greater than 30 inches. Large logs provide wildlife habitat and recycle soil nutrients.
You can cut standing dead conifer trees with no needles and up to 15 inches in diameter at breast height.
Shut Down Days: During “very high or “extreme” fire danger days, the Inyo National Forest will shut down use of electric or gas-powered chainsaws for all or part of the day. For daily updates, call the pre-recorded message at (760) 873-2555.
Maps: Firewood maps are available at the forest centers listed above. If you already have a 2025 firewood map, the permitted woodcutting areas remain the same for 2026.
For more information about the firewood program, visit the Forest Firewood Permits page or email the Special Forest Products inbox at [email protected].
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has, for more than 100 years, brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
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