Michigan’s New Firewood Ban Starts January 1
Cooler Michigan nights make a fire sound pretty good. So does anything that keeps my gas bill from looking like a truck payment.
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But starting January 1, 2027, getting firewood could involve more than texting your guy who knows a guy.
What Firewood Is Banned in Michigan Starting in 2027?
The state is banning untreated firewood from entering Michigan. Wood brought across the border must be properly heat-treated and certified. That includes the "free" load from your cousin's place in Indiana.
The logs need a little time in the hot seat. A certified kiln must heat the wood's center to at least 140°F and hold it at or above that temperature for a full hour. Why? So hitchhiking bugs don't get a plus-one to your bonfire.
Simply calling it "kiln-dried" doesn't cut it. Look for an official certification label.
Buying wood sourced right here in Michigan? This new import requirement doesn't apply.
Can You Still Burn Firewood in Michigan?
Your backyard bonfire, fireplace, woodstove, and campfire can all continue under this rule. Where the logs come from is what matters. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) recommends buying firewood within 10 miles of where you'll burn it and leaving leftovers behind. Wood pellets are exempt.
In other words, you're fine unless your wood hookup is from out of state.
Could Firewood Prices Go Up?
MSU Extension notes that kiln-drying firewood adds processing costs, which can make treated wood more expensive than untreated wood. That's a downside. What's the upside to switching to certified products? Keeping invasive pests out of Michigan's forests and your backyard.
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My ideal bonfire involves cold drinks, waiting to see who ends up with the lawn chair with the "squirrelly" leg, and zero imported infestations.
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