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‘Tis the season’: rules for cutting down Christmas trees and where to get your permit

Posted at 3:53 PM, Nov 08, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-09 09:39:39-05

SALT LAKE CITY — Planning to have a real Christmas tree this season? Get a permit, and you can cut down a tree in any of Utah’s national forests. You can buy a permit from National Forest Service offices and select vendors. Get full information here. Otherwise, check below to see when permits go on sale for different forests, how much they cost and what kinds of trees can be cut down.

Ashley National Forest

  • Permits go on sale November 15
  • $15 for a permit
  • Limit one tree per household
  • Fourth grade students with a voucher from Every Kid in a Park can get a free holiday tree

Dixie National Forest

  • Permits go on sale November 13
    • Cedar City Ranger District
      • $10 for a tree up to 10 feet, $20 for a tree between 11-20 feet
      • One permit per household, two trees maximum.
      • Species of trees allowed for cutting: sub-alpine fir, whit fir, pinyon pine and juniper.
    • Escalante Ranger District
      • $10 for a permit
      • One permit per household, one tree per household
      • All species of trees may be cut except bristlecone pine.
    • St. George Public Lands Information Center
      • $10 for a permit
      • Species of trees allowed for cutting: pinyon pine and juniper

Fishlake National Forest

  • Permits are already on sale
  • $10 for a permit, must be obtained in person
  • All species except ponderosa pine may be cut
    • However, ponderosa pine on Boulder Mountain in the Fremont River Ranger District may be cut.
    • Blue spruce trees may not be cut in the Beaver Ranger District.
  • Fourth grade students can get a free holiday tree with a voucher from Every Kid in a Park
  • Permits cannot be purchased at Fishlake National Forest offices, only from Ranger District offices.

Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests

  • Permits go on sale November 16
  • $10 for a permit
  • One permit per household
  • Trees up to 20 feet may be cut
  • Any species of tree may be cut

For detailed information on vendors selling permits, and information on how to be safe, see the National Forest Service’s full release: 2018 Christmas Tree Cutting on National Forests in Utah.