The movement of firewood in Virginia is regulated by both state and federal authorities due to multiple tree pest infestations. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has issued several quarantines to protect the state’s natural and agricultural resources from harmful pests like the spotted lanternfly and thousand cankers disease. As a result, it is illegal to bring firewood into Virginia from quarantined areas without the proper heat-treatment documentation and/or permits.
Some areas in Virginia are already invaded with harmful tree pests like the European gypsy moth and imported fire ant; federal quarantines on these pests further restrict the movement of firewood both out of and within the state. Also, moving firewood from Frederick county and the city of Winchester into other areas in Virginia is against the law since the invasive spotted lanternfly was detected in these areas in 2018. The same rule applies for the counties and cities infested with thousand cankers disease of walnut.
Virginia State Parks has a few recommendations for firewood users designed to prevent and reduce the risk of transporting forest pests on firewood:
- Leave your firewood at home
- Buy firewood at or near the campground
- Burn all wood before leaving
Some National Parks in Virginia like Blue Ridge and Shenandoah do not allow visitors to bring outside firewood unless it is bundled and certified heat-treated; firewood is often available for purchase by campground vendors. To ensure you follow firewood regulations, and to protect Virginia’s trees, find out the policies at your destination before bringing firewood. When in doubt, buy it where you burn it.
This summary is accurate to the best of DMF staff abilities as of 29 June 2021.
Need to find local firewood? Visit Firewood Scout
Virginia Web Resources:
General Information
- Firewood Quarantines, Virginia State Parks
- Quarantines in Virginia, Department of Forestry
- US Forest Service Southern Region Firewood Information
- Shenandoah National Park Firewood Ban
- Assateague Island National Seashore Firewood Restrictions
- Blue Ridge Parkway Firewood Restrictions
- Common Pests That Travel on Firewood in Virginia
- Plant Industry Services, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Pest Specific Information
- Invasive Insects in Virginia, Department of Forestry
- Emerald Ash Borer Federal Quarantine and Authorized Transit Map
- European Gypsy Moth North America Quarantine Map
- European Gypsy Moth Virginia Counties Quarantine Map
- Imported Fire Ant Information and Map Archives
- Imported Fire Ant Quarantine Map in Virginia
- Thousand Cankers Disease Information and Map Archives
- Thousand Cankers Disease Quarantine Rules, Virginia Department of Agriculture
- Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine in Virginia
- Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Map
- Spotted Lanternfly Reported Distribution, June 2021
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