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Under Title 5, Section 608 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, any person engaged in a forest products business must hold a license issued by the Department of Natural Resources. Licensed operators include sawmills, pulpwood and logging contractors, and firewood dealers. Other business types may also be licensed, including mulch suppliers, land clearing companies, tree removal companies, and lumber brokers.
Use the search tool on this page to find licensed operators by product type and county.
Licensing and Application
To become a licensed Forest Products Operator or renew an existing license, submit your application and payment online using the link above, or download the PDF application and mail it with payment to the address in the Contact Us section below.
Any forest harvest operation that disturbs more than 5,000 square feet or 100 cubic yards of soil must have an approved erosion and sediment control plan. The Forest Harvest Operations Manual provides guidance on plan approval requirements and applicable practices.
Property owners considering a timber harvest should contact their local Maryland Forest Service office before engaging a logging company. MFS staff can explain permitting requirements, forestry services available, and potential tax benefits of forest management.
Buying Firewood
Firewood dealers in Maryland are required by law to hold a Forest Products Operator license. Before purchasing firewood, verify the dealer is licensed using the search tool above — select "firewood" and your county.
Firewood must be sold by the cord or a fraction of a cord under Maryland law. A cord is a neatly stacked volume of 128 cubic feet, typically measured as a stack 4 feet high by 4 feet wide by 8 feet long. If you have a dispute about the volume of wood delivered, contact the Maryland Department of Agriculture Weights and Measures section at 410-841-5790.
Selecting dry wood. Dryness matters more than species. Firewood should be split and air-dried for at least nine months before burning. Green wood burns inefficiently, produces excess smoke, and can contribute to chimney buildup. Look for wood with grayish color, bark that is separating, and checked (split) ends.
Do not transport firewood. Moving firewood spreads invasive pests including spotted lanternfly and emerald ash borer. Buy firewood locally and burn it where you buy it. DNR prohibits bringing outside firewood onto state park and forest properties.
Species heat value. Different species produce different heat output. Higher-density hardwoods generally produce more heat per cord than lower-density species.
Species
| BTU per Cord
|
|---|
| Black locust | 26,500,000 |
| Hickory | 25,400,000 |
| Hophornbeam | 24,700,000 |
| Beech | 21,800,000 |
| Hard maple | 21,800,000 |
Red oak
| 21,700,000 |
White ash
| 20,000,000 |
White oak
| 19,200,000 |
Soft maple
| 19,100,000 |
Black cherry
| 18,500,000 |
Sweetgum
| 18,100,000 |
Yellow poplar
| 15,900,000 |
White pine
| 13,300,000 |
Additional Resources
Buying Firewood in Maryland
Directory of Consulting & Industrial Foresters
Directory of Master Loggers (MD/DE)
MD Erosion & Sediment Control Standards for Forest Harvest Operations (2016)
Forest Products Operator (FPO) Regulations
Contact Us
Tom Bradshaw
Forest Industry Development Specialist
Maryland Forest Service
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
201 Baptist Street Suite #22
Salisbury, Maryland 21801
(410) 713-3854 (o)
(443) 365-7524 (c)
[email protected]
