It is against the law to move untreated firewood out of areas regulated for tree pests in Nova Scotia without a permit from the Canadian Food and Inspection Agency (CFIA). This is to prevent the transport of pests within and across each province since invasive forest pests spread to new areas when people travel with untreated firewood. The pests regulated in Nova Scotia include the European spongy moth, Dutch elm disease, European larch canker, emerald ash borer, brown spruce longhorn beetle, and hemlock woolly adelgid. Below is a summary of CFIA recommendations when handling firewood for home heating and camping uses in Canada. Please see the General Canada Information for details.
- Buy certified heat-treated or local firewood (from within 80km)
- Do not bring firewood into a national park in Canada
Nova Scotian authorities have additional firewood rules to protect the health of the forest as moving firewood, even a few kilometers, can lead to new invasive pests infestations.
- Buy firewood where you burn it
- Don’t bring wood from outside sources
- Leave unused firewood for the next camper
Campers can purchase firewood at most national parks (e.g Kejimkujik NP) and provincial park campgrounds in Nova Scotia.
Bringing firewood from Canada into the USA is prohibited unless the firewood is labeled and certified heat-treated. Read about these requirements on the USDA and CBP firewood information sheet.
Bringing firewood from the USA into Canada is prohibited unless the firewood is labeled and certified heat-treated. Canada also encourages visitors to use local firewood.
This summary is accurate to the best of DMF staff abilities as of 28 July 2021.
Nova Scotia Resources:
- Nova Scotia’s Don’t Move Firewood Page
- The Novia Scotia Invasive Species Council Don’t Move Firewood Program
- Nova Scotia Park’s Guide 2021-2022
- European Spongy Moth in Nova Scotia
- Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Information, Nova Scotia Hemlock Initiative
- Forest Insects and Diseases Information in Nova Scotia
Canada General Web Resources:
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Don’t Move Firewood Page
- Canadian Council on Invasive Species, Buy Local Burn Local
- Canadian Food and Inspection Agency – Firewood Page
- US Customs and Border Protection (regarding personal firewood from Canada into the USA)
- Canada Border Services Agency (regarding person firewood from the USA into Canada)
Pest Specific Information:
- Asian Longhorned Beetle Questions and Answers
- Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle Information
- Emerald Ash Borer, Regulated Areas in Canada
- European Spongy Moth North America Quarantine Map
- Spongy Moth Information and Canadian Quarantine
For more information, visit our General Canada Information page.
Do you have better resources for our Nova Scotia page? Submit them at the Submit a Link ribbon below!