A California Christmas tree permit costs $10 per tree plus a $2.50 online processing fee, and you buy it through Recreation.gov for the specific national forest where you plan to cut. About a dozen national forests across the state participate, and the popular ones sell out within days of going on sale in early November.
Which National Forests Sell Permits
Recent seasons have seen permits available on Recreation.gov for the Eldorado, Inyo, Klamath, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Plumas, Sequoia, Shasta-Trinity, Six Rivers, Stanislaus, and Tahoe National Forests, plus the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.1Recreation.gov. Christmas Tree Permits The lineup shifts year to year. A forest that suffered a major wildfire may suspend permits across entire ranger districts so seedlings can reestablish. The Eldorado National Forest currently excludes its Mosquito Fire, Caldor Fire, and King Fire burn areas from Christmas tree cutting.2USDA Forest Service. Eldorado National Forest – Forest Product / Christmas Tree Permits
Each permit is valid only within the forest that issued it. Cutting in a neighboring forest or on adjacent private land with the wrong permit is a federal violation. Before you commit to a location, pull up that forest’s permit page on Recreation.gov to confirm it is selling permits this season and to review its designated cutting-area maps.
When Permits Go on Sale
Permits generally become available in early November, and each forest sets its own start date. Lassen National Forest opened its 2025 sales on November 1.3USDA Forest Service. Lassen National Forest – Christmas Tree Cutting Forests near Sacramento and the Bay Area can sell out within days of their launch. Check Recreation.gov in late October for announcement dates. The cutting season itself usually runs from mid-November through late December or early January, depending on the forest.
How to Buy and What It Costs
Purchases run through Recreation.gov. Search for the forest’s Christmas tree permit page, log into or create an account, and check out online.4Recreation.gov. Cut A Tree for the Holidays from Your National Forest Most California forests charge $10 per tree, and Recreation.gov adds a $2.50 processing fee to every online transaction.2USDA Forest Service. Eldorado National Forest – Forest Product / Christmas Tree Permits Some forests also sell permits in person at ranger stations for $10 cash, with no processing fee.
Households are generally limited to one tree per permit. Print the permit and its tag before you leave home. Most cutting areas sit at high elevations with no cell reception, so a digital copy on your phone is not a reliable backup. Forest officers conduct routine patrols and may ask for physical proof at any point during the trip.
Free Permits for Fourth Graders
Families with a child in fourth grade can get a free Christmas tree permit through the Every Kid Outdoors program. On the Recreation.gov checkout page, enter the number from the child’s Every Kid Outdoors pass or paper voucher and the permit fee drops to zero. The $2.50 reservation fee still applies.5USDA Forest Service. Every Kid Outdoors Provides Opportunity for 4th Graders and Families to Find Holiday Students can also claim the free permit in person at participating national forest visitor centers and ranger stations.
Cutting Rules You Have to Follow
The size limits are consistent across most California forests and strictly enforced:
- Maximum tree height: 20 feet.
- Maximum stump diameter: 6 inches, measured no higher than one foot above ground level.
- Maximum stump height: 12 inches above the ground. If snow covers the base, clear it so you can measure accurately.
Stick to pine, fir, or cedar. Do not cut any hardwood species like aspen or oak.2USDA Forest Service. Eldorado National Forest – Forest Product / Christmas Tree Permits Choose a tree from a dense grouping rather than an isolated specimen in the open. Take the whole tree at the right size for your home. Topping a large tree and walking away with the upper section is prohibited.6Recreation.gov. Tahoe National Forest Christmas Tree Permits in California
Where You Can and Cannot Cut
Each forest publishes cutting-area maps that show exactly where harvesting is allowed. Wildfire burn areas, zones with active replanting, and private land parcels (often shown in white on forest maps) are all off-limits. Motorized vehicles must stay on existing National Forest System roads open to the public. Off-road driving is not allowed, with the narrow exception of snowmobiles in designated open-riding areas.2USDA Forest Service. Eldorado National Forest – Forest Product / Christmas Tree Permits Wandering onto private land that borders national forest territory is one of the most common mistakes and can bring trespassing charges on top of permit violations.
Tagging the Tree
Attach the permit tag to the trunk or a prominent branch as soon as the tree is cut. Keep it visible during the drive out so any inspection at a checkpoint goes smoothly. A tree in the bed of your truck with no tag looks the same as a tree stolen from public land, and officers will treat it that way.
Winter Access and Chain Requirements
Most cutting areas sit at elevations where snow and ice are common by late November. California’s chain laws are not tied to calendar dates; they are enforced whenever road conditions warrant. Even if the road looks clear when you start driving, you must carry tire chains to enter any chain-control area. This applies to four-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles alike.7Caltrans. Truck Chain Requirements
If conditions worsen while you are on the mountain, you are required to stop and install chains. Vehicles without chains get turned around at checkpoints with no option to park and wait. Acceptable traction devices include conventional link chains, cable chains, and approved alternatives. Studded snow tires are legal from November 1 through April 30 but do not substitute for chains under chain-control rules.7Caltrans. Truck Chain Requirements
Bring the gear you would want if you got stuck for a few hours in freezing weather: warm layers, a charged phone, water, snacks, a flashlight, and a hand saw for the tree itself. Cell coverage is unreliable in most cutting areas, so tell someone your planned location and expected return time before you head out.
Penalties for Cutting Without a Permit
Cutting a tree on national forest land without authorization is not a minor infraction. Under federal law, anyone who unlawfully cuts or destroys a tree on land reserved by the United States can face a fine, imprisonment of up to one year, or both.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC Ch. 91 – Public Lands Entering a closed area of a national forest without permission carries a potential fine and up to six months of imprisonment. In practice, most first-time violators face fines and possible tree seizure rather than jail time, but the statutory maximums are steep enough that skipping the $10 permit is one of the worst bargains in outdoor recreation.