Michigan Has a New Firewood Rule Coming in 2027

If you camp up north, you’ve probably heard this before: leave your firewood at home and buy it when you get there.

Some parks and campgrounds already restrict outside firewood. Now Michigan is adding a new rule for anyone bringing it across the state line.

Michigan’s New Firewood Rule Starts in 2027

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Starting January 1, 2027, untreated firewood will no longer be allowed into Michigan.

According to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, firewood coming into the state must be properly treated with heat and certified. That includes a bundle from an Ohio gas station or wood from your own property in another state. Owning it doesn’t give you a pass.

It might sound a little strange, but there’s a good reason for it.

Why Is Michigan Cracking Down on Firewood?

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It’s all about what could be hiding in that wood.

See Also The Bug Michigan Wants You to Kill Has Reached Another County

Invasive insects and plant diseases can travel under the bark or inside the wood without you even knowing it. So that bundle you toss in the truck could be bringing more into Michigan than something to burn.

Michigan Firewood Rules: What Campers Need to Know

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This new rule covers wood coming from outside Michigan. Your campground’s existing rules still apply, even if you’re just driving up north from Genesee County. Sleeping Bear Dunes, for example, requires approved vendor wood or USDA-certified firewood.

Buying near your destination is the easiest move. The state recommends getting wood within 10 miles of where you’ll burn it and leaving leftovers behind.

Bringing certified wood across the state line? Check for the certification seal. “Kiln dried” alone doesn’t cut it.