1. If you are wanting to harvest from private lands, you may obtain the permit form from the Sheriff's Office at 312 SW 1st Ave. Kelso.
2. Fill in the form with the appropriate information.
3. Bring the form, and positive proof of land ownership to the Sheriff's Office at the Hall of Justice in Kelso, WA.
4. The Sheriff's Office will verify the ownership and authenticity of the form.  If approved, the form will by signed by the Sheriff's Office and a seal applied to the form to show authenticity.
5. If you are wanting to harvest from state land, you must obtain the permit form from DNR at 601 Bond Rd., Castle Rock, WA (360) 577-2025

There is no cost for this permit or service.

Dept. of Natural Resources
Southwest Region
601 Bond Rd.
PO Box 280
Castle Rock, WA  98611
Tel: (360) 577-2025

Harvesting of special forest products on state trust lands (this includes salal, bear grass, moss, mushrooms, and other seasonal vegetation). Since guidelines vary depending on the time of year and species, call DNR Special Forest Products Manager Mark Savage at 360-902-1774.

1. Christmas Trees Definition: Any type of tree such as Pine, Spruce, Fir, Hemlock, etc. Amount: More than 5 trees

2. Native Ornamental Trees Definition: Any trees or shrubs, not nursery grown, removed from ground with the roots intact.
Amount: More than 5 trees or shrubs

3. Cut or Picked Evergreen Foliage
Definition: Evergreen boughs, huckleberry, salal, fern, Oregon grape, rhododendron, mosses, bear grass, scotch broom. Not cones or seeds.
Amount: More than 5 pounds

4. Cedar Products
Definition: Cedar shake boards, shake and shingle bolts, and rounds one to three feet in length. Amount: Any

5. Cedar Salvage
Definition: Cedar chunks, slabs, stumps, logs with greater volume than one cubic foot and:

• Being harvested or transported from areas not associated with logging of timber stands where:
  • Application approved by Dept. of Natural Resources, or
  • Contract or permit issued by U.S. Government.
• Amount: Any

6. Processed Cedar Products
Definition: Cedar shakes, shingles, fence posts, hop poles, pickets, stakes, rails, or rounds less than one foot in length. Amount: Any

7. Wild Edible Mushrooms
Definition: Edible mushrooms not cultivated or propagated by artificial means.
Amount: Three gallons of single pieces of wild edible mushrooms and more than an aggregate total of 9 gallons of wild edible mushrooms, plus one wild edible mushroom.

8. Cascara Bark
Definition: The bark of the Cascara Tree.
Amount: More than 5 pounds

A Specialized Forest Products Harvesting Permit is NOT required when harvesting and/or transporting the following:

1. Nursery grown products.

2. Logs (except "cedar salvage" definition), poles, pilings, or other major forest products from which all limbs and branches have been removed.

3. Cedar Salvage when harvested concurrently with timber stand with approved forest practices application or with issued contract or permit by U.S. Government.

General Questions

1. Do I need a permit to haul forest products from my own land?
RCW 76.48.030(13) Yes.
"Landowner" means, with regard to any real property, under one's control.

2. Do I need a signature and place where I am taking the product?
RCW 76.48.030(13) No.
The law requires the signature of landowner where the product is being harvested, not where it is going.

3. Do I need to have the harvesting permit with me?
RCW 76.48.050(9) Yes.
Except for the harvesting of Christmas trees, the permit or true copy thereof must be carried by the permittee and available for inspection at all times.

4. Do I need a harvest permit for the market where I am taking the product?
RCW 46.48.120(14) Yes.
Buyers who purchase specialized forest products are required to record the permit number, the type of forest product purchased, the permit holder's name, and the amount of forest product purchased.

5. What is meant by "Harvest Site"?
RCW 97.48.030(16)
Harvest site can mean as small as one person on your own property or more persons that are engaged in harvesting Specialized Forest Products close enough to each other that communication can be conducted in a normal conversational tone.

How to apply for a Forest Product Permit (no cost)

1. Applications may be obtained from DNR for harvesting on their lands.  Applications for private lands may be obtained from the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office, in Kelso, WA.

2. Permits must be signed by person hauling the product.

3. Permit must show picture I.D. number of person transporting product.

4. Permit must contain seal from validating agency.

5. FAILURE TO COMPLY (RCW 76.48.130)
Any person who violates shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 and or by imprisonment in the County Jail for not to exceed one year or both.