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Georgia Firewood Rules
Whether Georgia limits firewood from other places, what state parks, the national forest, Cumberland Island and the Corps ask of campers, and why.
Photo: Mobius (Public domain), Wikimedia Commons
Georgia has no state firewood quarantine right now
Georgia has no state firewood quarantine in the sources read. The GFC emerald ash borer quarantine (Ga. Comp. R. 224-3) was repealed effective 2021-06-15, and the Department of Agriculture's EAB quarantine chapter 40-4-25 is shown as repealed.
Georgia's Department of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources and State Parks strongly advise residents and visitors to find local sources of firewood and not to bring wood from out of state.
Firewood rules by land manager
| Where | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia State Parks | Tree-killing insects and diseases can hide in firewood. Contact the state park directly about not moving firewood and finding local sources of wood. No heat-treatment or certified-wood requirement is stated. All campfires must be kept in designated areas such as a fire ring. | Source |
| Cumberland Island | Dead and down wood may be gathered; bundled firewood is sold on the ferry. Fires may be lit only with fuel designed for warmth or cooking such as charcoal briquettes or natural firewood. | Source |
| Okefenokee refuge | Scavenge fallen wood at the campsite, buy firewood on site (call ahead) or bring certified heat-treated firewood. | Source |
| Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest | Do not carve, chop, cut or damage live trees. No Georgia page read describes firewood permits or a firewood movement rule; Lake Sinclair's page says campfire permits are not required. | Source |
| Corps lakes | Cutting or gathering of trees or parts of trees and/or the removal of wood from project lands is prohibited without written permission of the District Commander. Gathering of dead wood on the ground for use in designated recreation areas as firewood is permitted, unless prohibited and posted by the District Commander. | Source |
| Georgia Power campgrounds | Fires should be confined to grills or fire rings and always attended. Dead trees or limbs on the ground may be collected for firewood. Lantern hangers should be used for lanterns; lanterns should not be hung from trees. | Source |
Why moving wood is discouraged
First live Georgia population found in Fulton County in October 2024; the Department of Agriculture calls it the only known presence in the state. Travellers to non-infested areas are told to check RVs, trailers, cars, clothes and camping equipment. No state quarantine order is stated on the page.
Georgia firewood: questions
Can I bring firewood into Georgia?
No Georgia firewood quarantine was found. The state still asks campers to buy firewood near where they burn it.
Can I bring my own firewood to a Georgia state park?
State parks do not set a certified-wood rule on the pages read. They ask you to contact the park about local sources and keep campfires in fire rings.
What about Cumberland Island?
Dead and down wood may be gathered and bundled firewood is sold on the ferry.
Is the emerald ash borer quarantine still in effect?
No. Georgia repealed it effective June 15, 2021.
Can I cut a live tree for firewood in the national forest?
No. The forest orders prohibit carving, chopping or damaging live trees.
Where is the spotted lanternfly in Georgia?
The Department of Agriculture reports one known population, in Fulton County since October 2024.
Campfire today?
Check the burn status and fire weather before you light one.