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Ohio Department of Agriculture
ODA offers tips
for purchasing firewood
Being familiar with state firewood laws can help ensure you get what
you pay for
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (Nov. 30, 2016) – As winter quickly approaches and
more people look to firewood to help heat their homes, the Ohio
Department of Agriculture is offering some basic tips to help when
purchasing wood.
“Many Ohioans rely on firewood to heat their homes during the cold
winter months,” said David Daniels, director of the Ohio Department of
Agriculture. “That’s why it’s important to know the laws about how
firewood must be sold in order to make sure you, the consumer, are
getting what you pay for.”
The following firewood rules and regulations are helpful to review
before making purchases:
Non-packaged firewood must be sold by the cord or by fractions of a
cord. One cord, when properly stacked, should be 8 feet long by 4 feet
high and 4 feet wide (128 cubic feet).
If sold in bulk, firewood must be purchased by the weight in ton
measurements. This must be weighed on a certified scale.
It is illegal to sell firewood by any other unit of measurement such as
a rick, rack, face cord or truckload. If a consumer believes that a
seller did not comply with these rules and regulations, the person
should immediately contact the seller.
If non-packaged firewood is purchased, the seller must present the
consumer with a delivery ticket or sales invoice that includes contact
information and the terms and conditions of the sale.
If the firewood is advertised and sold as a certain type of wood, the
load must contain at least 90 percent of that species.
Be aware of different firewood movement regulations in place concerning
invasive species such as gypsy moth and Asian longhorned beetle. It is
always good practice to not move firewood long distances and to buy
local and burn local.
When burning firewood for heat, the State Fire Marshal advises to
follow all necessary safety practices to avoid any serious problems.
If you have questions or concerns with a firewood sale, and the seller
will not correct the problem, contact the Ohio Department of
Agriculture’s Division of Weights and Measures at (614) 728-6290 or
contact your county auditor’s office.
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