The state of Iowa has firewood regulations in place to protect the state’s natural resources from harmful pests like the spotted lanternfly, Asian longhorned beetle, and emerald ash borer. Iowa’s Department of Natural Resources strongly recommends that firewood should only be obtained from within the county where it will be burned.
The highly destructive emerald ash borer was first discovered in Iowa in 2010 and has since spread throughout most of the state. As a result, Iowa established an internal quarantine to prohibit the movement of firewood out of any areas infested with emerald ash borer. It is also against the law to bring firewood into Iowa from any states infested with emerald ash borer.
Additionally, it is illegal to move firewood into Iowa from any states or areas with known infestations of thousand cankers disease or gypsy moth. Many Iowa State Parks offer on-site firewood for visitors; check if your destination is one of them before bringing firewood. Finally, both packaged and bulk firewood sold in Iowa must follow specific labelling requirements.
This summary is accurate to the best of DMF staff abilities as of 8 July 2021.
General Iowa Web Resources:
- Iowa Tree Pests
- Intrastate Quarantine of Emerald Ash Borer (as of February 2014)
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources -Emerald Ash Borer page
- Iowa State University Extension – Explanation of Firewood Labeling Requirements
- Iowa Forest Health
- Pest Diagnostic Clinic, Iowa State University
Pest Specific Information
- Emerald Ash Borer Information, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Emerald Ash Borer Information-Iowa State University
- Emerald Ash Borer Now Infests 80 Iowa Counties (2020)
- Emerald Ash Borer in North America Map
- Gypsy Moth Information
- Gypsy Moth in North America Quarantine Map
- Thousand Cankers Disease Information
Firewood Business Related Information:
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