BLM reduces Christmas tree and firewood permit fees to $1 this holiday season

DURANGO, Colo. — The Bureau of Land Management reduced fees for personal-use Christmas tree and firewood permits to $1, down from $8 to $10 in previous years, effective Dec. 5 through Jan. 31.

Ten BLM field offices across Colorado issue the permits and monitor designated harvesting areas.

In Colorado, BLM issues between 2,700 and 3,500 Christmas tree permits each year. Permits are sold based on public demand and are not capped.

“Make sure you’re paying attention to the maps,” said Brigette Waltermire, BLM public affairs specialist. “You want to make sure you’re cutting within the designated harvesting boundaries. Without a map, you could cross onto other federally managed land, state land or private property.”

The agency manages environmental impacts by adjusting where cutting is allowed. Field offices can expand, shift or close designated areas based on forest conditions, while protected or sensitive lands remain off-limits.

Tree cutting and firewood collection can also support forest health. Removing select trees and deadwood allows remaining vegetation to grow stronger while reducing excess fuels that can contribute to wildfires, helping forests become more resilient over time.

Christmas tree and firewood permits generate $25,000 to $50,000 annually in Colorado. That revenue goes to the U.S. Treasury, not directly to BLM, so the reduced fee does not affect the agency’s operating budget.

Cutting trees without a permit can result in fines under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. There is no fixed fine specific to Christmas tree violations, and penalties vary by case.