Firewood Restrictions and Regulations

[bower4311]

I want to start selling bundled firewood but I am worried about restrictions. I won't be kiln drying any wood so how do I find the exact regulations for New York state regarding firewood. I know the ash borer restricts moving firewood more than 50 miles but how do I know the specific steps to ensure my customers know not to transport the wood or are informed correctly?

I plan on registering as a business so any wholesale buyer will have a receipt but do I need to charge sales tax for retail sales?

If I plan on selling to a gas station I want to make sure I am up to code with the process in case I work with any big chains I wouldn't want to run into legal problems.

Thanks for any help.

 

[LT100]

Go straight to your DEC website and there is a lot info about exactly what you are asking.

Firewood and Invasive Insects - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

A quick google search pulled this up.

 

[Circle B MN]

I would make calls to your local Dept. of Natural Resources office, as well your Dept of Agriculture. If you are in a quarantine area the wood you sell is going to have so "tight" regulation involved.

As for taxes, check with your own state tax dept. but in the state of MN sales to those will resell the item are not taxable but you must maintain a collection of tax exempt forms, updated annually, of these customers. Non wholesale customers whom do not use your product as thier sole source of heating are taxable. Bundles are assumed to be a recreational product and are taxed at the standard rate.

Operating as a business, you may want to take a look at insurance, even in the minimalist form. If your bundle breaks open and drops on some woman's toe and a lawyer gets involved, you are not going to be happy. It's sounds silly, it is more than silly, but as a business you are a target for these things.

 

[D&B Mack]

I would make calls to your local Dept. of Natural Resources office, as well your Dept of Agriculture. If you are in a quarantine area the wood you sell is going to have so "tight" regulation involved.

As for taxes, check with your own state tax dept. but in the state of MN sales to those will resell the item are not taxable but you must maintain a collection of tax exempt forms, updated annually, of these customers. Non wholesale customers whom do not use your product as thier sole source of heating are taxable. Bundles are assumed to be a recreational product and are taxed at the standard rate.

Operating as a business, you may want to take a look at insurance, even in the minimalist form. If your bundle breaks open and drops on some woman's toe and a lawyer gets involved, you are not going to be happy. It's sounds silly, it is more than silly, but as a business you are a target for these things.

Spot on!

 

[bower4311]

Spot on!

Very much so.

 

[Iska3]

I would make calls to your local Dept. of Natural Resources office, as well your Dept of Agriculture. If you are in a quarantine area the wood you sell is going to have so "tight" regulation involved.

As for taxes, check with your own state tax dept. but in the state of MN sales to those will resell the item are not taxable but you must maintain a collection of tax exempt forms, updated annually, of these customers. Non wholesale customers whom do not use your product as thier sole source of heating are taxable. Bundles are assumed to be a recreational product and are taxed at the standard rate.

Operating as a business, you may want to take a look at insurance, even in the minimalist form. If your bundle breaks open and drops on some woman's toe and a lawyer gets involved, you are not going to be happy. It's sounds silly, it is more than silly, but as a business you are a target for these things.

Sorry to say but this is so true nowdays. Well put Guns.. Some real food for thought.

Ouestion:
Does the wood need to be Kiln dried or just Heat Treated like we do to the pallets?

 

[SS396driver]

Untreated firewood for personal use is restricted to 50 miles from where its cut. I don't know the reg for business. I carry this in my truck every time I cut http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/selfisscert.pdf I was stopped by DEC once and didn't have it but there was no problem since he saw me loading the truck and I told him I was going home about 15 miles.

 

[D&B Mack]

Sorry to say but this is so true nowdays. Well put Guns.. Some real food for thought.

Ouestion:
Does the wood need to be Kiln dried or just Heat Treated like we do to the pallets?

Here, check this:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/emerald_ash_b/downloads/firewoodfed.pdf

 

[bower4311]

Sent some e-mails to the DEC for NY. Was informed that my wood is in an EAB quarantined area but being that every place within a 50 miles radius is also quarantined I am alright to sell the firewood anywhere within 50 miles. DEC guy was very helpful and even said he'd send me a map that is easier to see the 50 miles where it could be sold.