Auditor offers tips on legal firewood sales in Wayne County
Wayne County Auditor Jarra Underwood says consumers should be aware when purchasing firewood in the area to avoid getting burned.
As cold weather settles in, more people look to firewood to help heat their homes, according to a news release from the auditor's office. Advertisements of firewood for sale will begin to increase, and Underwood offers some basic tips to help when purchasing wood.
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“There’s nothing like sitting in front of a toasty fire with your family and friends,” said Underwood in the release. “It not only keeps you warm, but it also warms your soul. The crackle and flames create a peaceful relaxing atmosphere in which to enjoy.”
The Weights and Measures division of the auditor’s office is responsible for enforcing state and local laws that help maintain a fair marketplace to protect both consumers and area businesses, the release states.
Ohio’s laws relating to units of measurement are also enforced when it comes to firewood sales. Firewood is defined as any kindling, logs, boards, timber, or other wood (split or not split), offered for sale or sold as solid fuel.
Advertisements stating firewood for sale by the truckload are prohibited by law, according to the auditor's office.
Firewood must be sold by the cord. So, how much wood is that?
Firewood should be sold as a cord or fraction of a cord.
A cord is a legally defined unit of measurement and equals 128 cubic feet. Traditionally a cord is stacked 8-feet long by 4-feet high and 4-feet wide. Smaller bundles may be sold by cubic measure, such as cubic inches, which is length times width times height. The measurement must be marked on the packaging.
When purchasing firewood, consumers should obtain a receipt. The receipt should include the name and address of the seller and buyer, delivery date, quantity delivered, price per cord, total price of amount delivered, and a description of the type of wood delivered. Bundles cannot be labeled as jumbo or by any other description, they must be sold by cubic measure.
Upon delivery, wood should be stacked tightly in a cord or fraction of a cord and measured for accuracy. If the quantity delivered does not match the quantity purchased, the consumer should immediately contact the seller. If the seller does not correct the problem, the consumer should contact weights and measures at the auditor’s office.
Firewood is taxable, and a license is required to sell it
A license is required to sell or advertise the sale of firewood in Wayne County.
Since firewood is a taxable product, all firewood dealers must have a valid Ohio retail vendor’s license, which can be purchased through the auditor’s office for a one-time fee of $25.
As a measure of safety, Underwood encourages anyone with either a wood-burning fireplace or wood-burning stove to have the chimney inspected and cleaned annually. Creosote, a flammable tarlike substance, is a byproduct of burning wood. After time, creosote can collect in the chimney or flue and potentially cause an unwanted fire.
For the greatest measure of safety for you and your family, install one or more smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Check them monthly to ensure they are in good working order.
For more information, or to report a complaint please contact the auditor at 330-287-5430.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Facts to know before buying or selling firewood in Wayne County
