Natural Resource Management

Permits & Tags

The Nevada Division of Forestry hosts permit and tag information for Christmas tree harvesting, critically endangered species, Yucca/Cactus harvesting, timberland conversion, logging, and wood cutting per Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS).

Christmas Tree Permits

According to NRS 527, Christmas trees harvested commercially from private lands in Nevada are a regulated commodity. Before a harvester can cut Christmas trees from private lands, they must obtain a permit from NDF. If a permit is granted, the harvester will also be charged a tagging fee and NDF will place the tags on the trees upon harvest and inspection. For more information on commercial harvesting permits, contact the Nevada Division of Forestry and ask to speak with a Resource Management Officer for your region.

  • Western Region (Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, Storey, and Washoe Counties): 775-849-2500
  • Northern Region (Elko, Eureka, Lander, and White Pine Counties): 775-738-3454
  • Southern Region (Esmeralda, Clark, Nye, and Lincoln Counties): 702-486-5123

The Nevada Division of Forestry does not  issue permits to harvest Christmas trees for personal use. Those can be purchased from the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management.

  • To harvest a tree on U.S. Forest Service property, visit recreation.gov, or call the ranger district for your location.
  • To harvest a Christmas tree on Bureau of Land Management property, visit their forest and wood product permits page, or call the BLM district office for your location.

Critically Endangered Species Permits

A species or subspecies of native flora shall be regarded as threatened with extinction when its existence is endangered and its survival requires assistance because of overexploitation, disease or other factors or because its habitat is threatened with destruction, drastic modification or severe curtailment. NDF is charged by NRS 527 with adding and removing species from the list of Critically Endangered species (NAC 527.010) and for managing the special take permitting process on all lands within Nevada.

The statutes require NDF to consider petitions to list or de-list any species. The statutes also require NDF to consider any applications to destroy Critically Endangered species or designated species habitat area and allows the agency to provide or deny a special permit for the destruction of any of the Critically Endangered species.

Application for a Permit to Take Critically Endangered Species (PDF)
Petition to List or De-List a Critically Endangered Species (PDF)

For more information, please call Nevada Division of Forestry at (775) 684-2500 and ask to speak with a Resource Management Officer in your NDF region.

Yucca/Cactus Harvesting Permits

These plants are protected species in Nevada, and commercial harvesting of these species requires a permit from NDF. If a permit is granted, then the permittee will be charged a tagging fee for each plant harvested and those plants will be tagged by NDF upon harvest and inspection.

Brochure on Cactus Plants (PDF)
Desert Flora Harvest Registration Form (PDF)

For more information, please call the Nevada Division of Forestry’s Las Vegas Office at (702) 486-5123.

Timberland Conversion Certificates

NRS 528 requires that developers whom are interested in converting timberlands to any use other than the growing of timber, shall file an application and secure a timberland conversion certificate.

For more information, please call Nevada Division of Forestry at (775) 684-2500 and ask to speak with a Resource Management Officer in your NDF region.

Logging Permits

Logging operations occur when trees are commercially harvested by a timber owner or the agent of a timber owner by felling, skidding, forwarding or yarding, onsite processing and loading of trees or logs onto trucks. NRS 528 requires that prior to any logging or cutting operation, any timber owner or the agent of the timber owner shall secure a logging permit from the State Forester Firewarden. Logging permit application elements can be found in NRS 528, and can be submitted to the NDF Regional Resource Management Officer in the applicants’ NDF region.

For more information, please call Nevada Division of Forestry at (775) 684-2500 and ask to speak with a Resource Management Officer in your NDF region.

Wood Cutting Permits

The Nevada Division of Forestry issues permits for wood cutting and transportation of forest products from private lands in Nevada. Wood cutting permits on most of Nevada's public lands are issued by the US Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Please contact these agencies for permits on their jurisdiction. 

Highlighted Projects

Western Region
Galena Creek Regional park
The Nevada Division of Forestry (NDF) is teaming up with Washoe County Parks and Open Space, the USDA Forest Service, and the Nevada Department of Transportation on a new project at Galena Creek Regional Park. With funding from the USDA Forest Service's Wildfire Crisis Strategy, this effort focuses on reducing wildfire risks, improving forest health, and restoring the park's natural ecosystem.
Read more
Western Region
Spooner Landscape Resilience Project
The Spooner Landscape Resilience Project is a 300-acre environmental improvement initiative, spearheaded by the Nevada Tahoe Resource Team and the Nevada Division of Forestry.
Read more
Western Region
Lot X Fuels Reduction and Forest Restoration Project
The Lot X Fuels Reduction and Forest Reforestation Project was funded through a US Forest Service Hazardous Fuels Grant, to improve forest and riparian health in Lot X...
Read more