Free timber from the state for building a house: how to get it, features, documents, laws

Wood is one of the most popular materials for construction. Interest in wooden houses does not subside; on the contrary, timber or logs are increasingly used to build a private house. Wood is also used for the construction of utility rooms, various utility buildings, and structures.

But little is known that certain categories of citizens can receive free timber from the state and thus solve construction or repair problems profitably. Even ordinary firewood is valuable fuel for those who have equipped their home with a solid fuel boiler.

According to the legislation of the country, everyone can take 150 cubic meters of wood without payment once every 25 years; this is a great help for those who live in the village, conduct economic activities there, or are planning to build a country house. How to get timber for building a house for free, where to go to procure this material?

What documentation is required to receive preferential timber?

To formalize the receipt of logs for the construction of residential and commercial buildings, the beneficiary will need to go to the local authorities with the appropriate, well-written application.
At the federal level, the list of required documents to obtain timber on preferential terms has not been established. This prerogative is given to local authorities.

When drawing up an application for timber, the applicant must indicate for what purposes he will use it. If it is used as firewood, you will need a certificate confirming that the living space is heated with a wood stove.

In the general list of documents, in addition to the application, there should be:

recipient's passport (copy);
a document permitting the construction of a residential building (outbuilding);
a document certifying the existence of the right to own a land plot;
a document from the local administration stating that the applicant has not previously received timber (and if he has received it, the date of its receipt is indicated).

The application is reviewed by a special commission, which includes an employee of the village council, an employee of the architecture department, and a representative of forestry and environmental protection.

If the commission agrees to release the timber, the applicant will execute a purchase and sale agreement with the forestry department.

The state, having provided the applicant with free wood, carries out regular checks on the targeted use of logs for real estate construction. The inspectors may be employees of the prosecutor's office, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and inspectors of the state forest protection.

List of documents for registration

If a family's home burns down or is destroyed by a natural disaster, they may be able to obtain wood on an expedited basis. To do this, you must provide supporting documents. The recipient cuts and removes the logs himself or pays for the services of a logging company. To export wood, you need to obtain permission from the head of agriculture. The head issues permission when the plot is put in order. It is necessary to uproot the stumps, remove the sawn-off tops and branches, cut down the bushes remaining on the plot and harrow the ground.

Free timber from the state is provided only to indigenous peoples of the North, Far East and Siberia.

It is necessary to inquire with the administration about the availability of wood for individual housing construction and on whose forest territory it can be purchased. Submit an application, providing permission to build a house, land documents. Based on the results of consideration of the application, the further course of events will be determined.

If you want to know what the standards for providing materials are and who has the right to receive them, you should refer to the regional legislation at your place of residence. Each subject of the Russian Federation solves this issue in its own way based on the available capabilities.

I rented a plot of land and wrote an application to the local forestry department for the allocation of 100 cubic meters of forest for construction. They refused due to the fact that my husband had already taken 30 cubic meters of timber to renovate our old house in 2011. Is the refusal legal?

The commission may refuse to provide a forest license for the following reasons:

the period has not expired - the forest is provided once in a certain period of time;
there are no necessary documents;
the application indicates an unacceptable purpose for using the wood;
Invalid volume requested;
There are no forest plantations on the territory of the forestry that are permissible for harvesting.

Decision No. 2-256/2016 2-256/2016~M-164/2016 M-164/2016 dated March 31, 2021 in case No. 2-256/2016 Issued by: Cherepovets District Court (Vologda Region).

Regional laws discuss in detail the needs that forests can be used to satisfy. This issue is not being resolved at the federal level. As a general rule, all needs not related to business activities are recognized as personal needs.

To apply for preferential or free timber, you must provide a package of documents to the forestry department. It is not fixed by law, so it may differ in different regions.

At the court hearing, the representative of the plaintiff of the Forestry Department of the Vologda Region, on the basis of a power of attorney, A.V. Shishkin, supported the claims.

You haven’t forgotten about paying income tax, it is different in each region, and the amount turns out to be significant, these are additional costs for “free forest”, plus cutting, trawling, hauling, sawmilling, uprooting and harvesting wood, so free cheese in the mousetrap and you need to weigh your options at least 7 times.

The defendant did not present evidence to refute the commission's conclusions at the court hearing. The case materials also lack evidence that the defendant provided, within the time limits established by the contract, a report on the use of harvested timber along with documents confirming its intended use.

For the period 2021 and 2021, the legislator established the following procedure for obtaining timber. Individuals and citizens with the status of entrepreneurs acquire it by participating in auctions.

To receive timber from the state for construction, heating or repair work, you must contact the district forestry department at the place of registration of the person.

If you managed to cut down and transport the timber intended for you to the construction site, it still needs to be prepared for construction, which is a very difficult task for an ignorant person. Therefore, many specialized companies offer to exchange the plot of 150 cubic meters allocated to you for 15 cubic meters of finished construction timber, and such offers are in great demand.

A person submits a package of documents to this authorized body. One of the main documents is a statement.

It is also necessary to remember that we live in Russia, where the bureaucracy runs everything. It may take you several years to complete all the necessary paperwork to receive free timber, so you shouldn’t hope for a quick housewarming.

Almost half of Russia's territory is landscapes covered with forests. Therefore, the state provides the opportunity for some citizens to engage in logging for personal purposes. Few people know how to get free timber to build a house in 2021. This article will help you figure out how to register timber for building a house for free.

Procedure

To obtain a land plot, you can choose one of the existing ones or coordinate the allocation of land and its location with the administration.

The fact is that the subject of transfer can only be that land plot that has already been registered in the cadastral register.

If there are none in the selected settlement, then first you will have to carry out land surveying work: defining boundaries and drawing them on plans, as well as entering data about the site into the State Cadastre. This takes some time and requires financial costs.

The interested party - the citizen who wants to receive land for individual housing construction - will have to pay for cadastral work.

The general procedure will be as follows:

It is possible to obtain land for the construction of a residential building not only as a property. Most often, it is leased free of charge for a period of several years. After a house is built and put into operation on the site, it can be privatized. Download to view and print (free)

What documents will be required

You must submit an application to the local administration. It must formulate a request for free allocation of land specifically for the construction of an individual residential building and what specific plot the applicant is asking to provide.

The rest of the document is presented in free form.

You will need to confirm your right to receive land free of charge with documents. Their list is individual and depends on the program under which the plot will be provided. Here are the main ones:

passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation with a registration mark;
passports of other adult family members;
children's birth certificates;
certificate of family composition;
documents for owned real estate (if any);
a conclusion about the non-compliance of the area of occupied housing with the standards and the need to increase it.

The period for consideration of such an application in 2021 is 1 month. Then the administration must either make a decision to transfer the site or give a written refusal.

The motive for this could be:

incompleteness of submitted documents;
discrepancy between the purpose of this site and the purpose of receiving;
ownership of land by a friend to the owner;
lack of grounds for free transfer of land.

Registration of your right

Ownership of a land plot received free of charge for the construction of a residential building will not arise until it is registered in the prescribed manner. An unregistered plot cannot be bequeathed, sold or donated in the future. A house built on it cannot be registered.

Therefore, immediately after signing the transfer deed, it is necessary to register.

To do this, an application is submitted to Rosreestr, to which the following documents are attached:

owner's passport;
Extract from the Unified State Register of Real Estate (not mandatory, needed to identify the plot by cadastral number;
decision on the allocation of land and the act of its transfer (transfer agreement);
receipt of payment of state duty (350 rubles).

Documents are reviewed within nine working days, after which a corresponding entry is made in the Unified State Register.

When do you need to obtain a permit to legally cut down trees and who issues it?

There are many situations where obtaining a permit is a prerequisite for legal tree cutting. The most typical and common:

The land on which the green space is located is municipal or federal property.
There is a tree growing outside the property that is obstructing the driveway or passage.
A plot with a forest has been acquired as property. The owner plans to cut it down and organize a vegetable garden/garden in the prepared area.
A permit is required to cut down trees during construction in a populated area.

When deciding to cut down plantings, it is important to act according to the law. Professionals carry out comprehensive work

We not only cut down trees, but also help you go through all the stages without any problems and obtain permission to cut down forests for construction or other needs.

Conditions for receiving assistance

To qualify for government support, you must meet certain criteria. This must be remembered by every person interested in how to receive a subsidy for the construction of a residential building.

The conditions for receiving a subsidy may differ depending on the program under which the citizen is applying for a subsidy. Let us list the general principles of receiving government assistance. Each of the following points should be documented, if necessary:

Link to the subject of the federation. The application should be written to the administration in whose jurisdiction the construction is planned.
It is necessary to recognize a family or individual citizen as needing improved housing conditions.
You must have permission to erect a building. The document must be valid.
Development land. It is necessary to confirm that the site is owned by the family or is in other legal use.
Long-term rental is allowed. In addition, it is necessary that the land has the appropriate category: for development or for private farming.
It is necessary to confirm that the family has sufficient income to obtain a loan or otherwise obtain funds for construction.
Government agencies can accept and approve only one application per house.
The provided documentation is checked for compliance with modern technical and sanitary requirements. They are approved by local authorities on the basis of current legislation.
The area of the building must comply with the standards.
The applicant must reside (have registration) in the region of application for more than one year.

Administration specialists will check each of the necessary criteria for the participants’ compliance with the program. If they find errors in the documents and consider them to be fraud, they will refuse to provide a subsidy.

Additional criteria for participation in the program may be, for example, age (Young Family program), the presence of a preferential certificate (Chernobyl disaster liquidators, veterans), the presence of an honorary title or an ITU certificate of disability.

Before you start collecting documents, you must obtain a list of required documents from an administration employee or other body providing the subsidy.

Where to apply for an appointment

A subsidy for the construction of a house is not issued immediately. Government authorities must first review your application, study the grounds, and find out whether the expenses will be targeted.

That is, a citizen must indicate his problem to the local administration.

This is where you should go.

Action plan:

Go to the local administration or other body providing targeted subsidies.
Find out who is responsible for the work of the housing commission.
You should already have a package of documents with you.
Show them to a specialist, ask him to advise you on how to get help.
If the documents comply with the law and there is a social program suitable for you in the region of your residence, write an application.
If a specialist asks you to bring additional documents, you must comply with the request and collect a complete package of documents.
Collect missing papers.
Try again.

The local administration does not make financial decisions on our issue. The specialist prepares a package of documents and sends them to the region. There, a special commission working under the Department of Construction and Housing and Communal Services will consider them. 30 days are allotted for this.

When the decision is made, the applicant will be notified. The response must be provided in writing within five days from the date of the decision.

Please check that your home address is spelled correctly on your application so that your response letter is not lost.

Problems You May Face with Free Logging

Of course, many people like the opportunity to get “free cubic meters”. But not everything is as simple as it might seem:

Wood processing is the cause of losses. Out of 150 m3, after processing, a couple of planks will remain (but it all depends on the quality of the material).
Problems receiving. The reviews say that you need to go around “3 times” with documents. Those. local authorities are trying to find different ways and reasons for refusal.
The location of the site is “in the middle of nowhere.” Roads are either non-existent or impassable. Those. the logger is forced to carry logs almost 5 km or more. The terrain may be reminiscent of the Ural Range.
The trees are rotten. As a rule, sick or withered trees are cut down. There is a big question about quality. Often there are so-called “sieve trees”, which are generally not suitable for building and renovating a house.

The reasons for such troubles are different. They write that the state treats people this way because:

the plot was not purchased due to unprofitability (i.e. they simply did not want to take “dead wood” at the auction due to difficult access roads or poor quality of raw materials);
150 m3 is a small plot, which is why it is given out on small forest islands;
the customer does not understand the features and subtleties of construction, selection of timber and timber.

How to solve problems with cubic meters of forest?

You already know how to design your allotment and “cubes”. It's not as simple as they promise in the media. There are ways to make your life easier and improve the quality of your wood.

Method No. 1. Chat with people who have already taken a plot

They can suggest:

what kind of forest was found in this area;
where is the best place to get labor;
how to order cars and special equipment;
how many whips will be normal.

There is a village (usually) next to the forest. In it lives a man who is, or once was, felling a forest. You can try to solve the problem of “free cubic meters” through it.

Method No. 2. Contact companies that professionally harvest wood

But first you should consult with:

forestry staff;
workers in the logging industry.

This will make it possible to understand how much timber is allocated and how much of it will be “industrial timber”.

Companies involved in logging calculate the cost of harvested timber. The prices for harvesting commercial timber are higher than the cost of harvesting firewood. It is difficult to say how much it costs to procure 150 m3 free of charge “from the state.”

The price tag includes the following:

features of logistics and location of the facility;
delivery of lumber to the construction site (quite an expensive undertaking);
presence/absence of access roads to the plot;
distance from the plot to the construction site of the house;
nuances of trees (dead wood, rot, normal plants);
lack of streams and forest rivers;
nuances of transportation (mountainous terrain, swamps, etc.);
possibility/impossibility of storage near the road (if you set up a storage place near a toll highway, get ready to “unfasten your money”)

Remember that the plot is prescribed for 1 person. He bears full responsibility for development.

Please note that:

it is prohibited to increase the number of trees that will be “developed”;
The area must be cleaned and cleared of branches/twigs;
It is necessary to fell the forest only in accordance with the established technological scheme (and in compliance with the deadlines).

Tips for those who prepare “free cubes”:

Concluding an agreement with specialized companies working in the field of felling is an opportunity to save both time and money. All that remains is to find a good company.
It is better to lay logs on so-called “pads”.
It is better to remove logs close to the road so that highway trucks can easily pass there.
The timber trailer is a solution for transporting industrial timber. Saves time and space, allows you to transport large loads.
Pulpwood and firewood are often donated for cutting down the plot/transportation.
The timber is stacked. If possible, it is worth sanding the whips from the bark to above-zero temperatures. If you don’t have time to do this, the bark beetle will ruin the material.

Now you know who is given free timber and under what conditions. We hope that our instructions will help you understand and find answers to all questions about collecting documents, contacting government agencies, obtaining permits and “working on the ground.”

What conditions must be met to obtain trees?

Citizens who do not fall into the preferential category will be able to purchase forest at an auction. The state gives beneficiaries the opportunity to receive timber free of charge or at a low price.

At the expense of the state apparatus, wood is issued only to residents of Siberia, the North, and the Far East. This factor is fixed at the legislative level.

In some areas, local authorities provide this opportunity to WWII veterans and persons who took part in hostilities.

Often beneficiaries are given the opportunity to buy timber at the original price put up at auction. It should be noted that timber benefits are granted subject to specified conditions. Depending on the place of residence, the conditions for assigning benefits differ.

Let's look at the main limitations:

It is possible to use wood for your own needs. Namely:

for heating homes;
for building a house or renovating a residential building;
for the construction of outbuildings.

It can be used for the construction of a residential building, but it will require a ready-made foundation for the structure.

Receiving timber for the purpose of processing and selling it in another form is not permitted.

Lesobilet

The received timber ticket can be exchanged for the finished amount of wood. The forest is usually planted with trees of different species and ages. Therefore, when harvesting, the tree is discarded as unsuitable for construction, repair, etc.

Alternatively, you can exchange your timber ticket at a commercial organization for ready-made materials. The exchange is carried out in a certain ratio; this needs to be clarified in a specific situation. For many citizens, this solution to the problem is beneficial. After all, it also eliminates the need to organize the procurement process, search for equipment and workers.

ATTENTION! It is possible to receive monetary compensation for the allocated amount of wood.

Important nuances

Sometimes local authorities supplement legislative regulations by setting their own restrictions. This is not surprising, since regions differ. Different nature, economic activities, living conditions of local citizens.

According to the law, “personal need” is if a person uses the received material without resale, for himself.

If desired and possible, a person can independently prepare and then transport the logs. Many local residents have the necessary equipment. After all, the services of third-party specialists are quite expensive. Leskhoz allows this. The main thing is to clean up after yourself.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Free Wood

For many citizens, an extremely important advantage in favor of preferential timber is its low price. Moreover, in some cases you can get lumber absolutely free

However, it does not take into account the fact that the time frame for providing trees by the state is not limited. And also that the goals may be determined as inappropriate, since the law does not provide clear conditions

Due to complete dependence on the decisions of local authorities, the family risks not becoming the owner of the resource it needs, and as a result, the construction of a house or major repairs will be carried out at its own expense, but with a significant loss of time.

Fire distance to forest

Compliance with fire safety ensures that the building will remain intact in the event of a fire in the forest. On the other hand, the house will not be able to cause damage to nature, for example, by sparks from a bathhouse chimney or a melted fireplace, barbecue, or grill. If the distance from the trees is not maintained, a fire may occur from a spark flying from the chimney.

The basic law that determines the fire distance to forests and other objects is Federal Law 123 (fire regulations). It sets the distance from urban multi-storey buildings at 50 m or one and a half heights of the building if it is more than 30 m.

Distance to the roadway

For the private sector of individual housing construction, SNT, dacha cooperatives and villages, the distance to the fence is determined to be 15 m. There must be fire breaks around the entire settlement. The village administration or the board of the dacha or garden cooperative should monitor their condition.

Procedure for allocating forest for construction

But the concepts of petition and extradition should not be confused. A person can apply to receive it, but the decision regarding issuance is made by a special commission, which takes into account the feasibility of allocating these materials. The sale is carried out in cases where a resident of the Russian Federation does not have the right to receive free forest material.

The possibility of obtaining wood for free or at a reduced price is stipulated in the Forest Code, we were told at the Federal Forestry Agency (Rosleskhoz). This is the main document that you can refer to to prove your right to material for construction or heating.

Free wood is provided to citizens in the form of a forest plot intended for felling. The law states that work on the site can be carried out either by oneself or by third-party contractors. Permission to cut down the allocated area can be obtained from the forestry department at the place where the timber was cut, and the delivery of the timber to the construction site is carried out by the applicant himself. In some areas, you can purchase timber at a 50% discount, but such a concession is provided only for people with difficult financial situations - pensioners, disabled people, large and low-income families.

Through MFC

For many, this option will be more convenient, because the forestry department may be located outside the populated area. Such centers operate in every region and provide a large number of popular services. Here you can apply for the allocation of cubic meters of wood for repairs, construction, and other personal needs.

The application is submitted by MFC employees to the forestry department. The procedure through the center will be simpler for the applicant; he does not need to collect many documents - the employees themselves request them from the relevant authorities.

How to get 150 cubic meters of forest for free from the state?

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Some citizens have the right to expect to receive free or discounted wood. It can be used for heating a private home, constructing a new building or carrying out repair work.

In this article you will learn how you can obtain forest from the state, as well as what documentation is required to achieve this goal.

Is it possible to obtain timber from the state for the construction of a private house?

Under the Soviet Union, various social programs were in place aimed at providing the population with certain resources (for example, timber) free of charge.

At the moment, the state more often sells wood on a paid basis, selling it at auctions. Both ordinary citizens and organizations with private entrepreneurs can take part in the event.

Article 30 of the Forestry Code of the Russian Federation allows for the possibility of individuals obtaining wood without participating in auctions, if we are talking about purchasing material for their own needs.

In this case, citizens can use the received resource to build or repair a private house, erect outbuildings or fences, as well as heat the premises in cold weather.

Russian legislation provides for the allocation to a citizen and his family members:

50 cubic meters of wood for repair work (allowed once every 5 years);
150 cubic meters of timber for construction purposes (issued once every 25 years);
up to 15 cubic meters inclusive for heating residential premises (delivery can be carried out annually).

Who can get the forest?

Free transfer of wood is provided for certain categories of persons (veterans, citizens with disabilities, etc.). In most cases, you must pay a certain amount of money for the resource provided. Some citizens have the right to count on benefits.

Thus, not everyone can get timber for free. To get in line for a plot of land, you must really need wood.

For example, a family that owns a house can submit an application to the forestry enterprise if it is in poor condition and requires repairs.

Useful material: How to arrange a parking space in the yard?

List of documentation

To receive wood for free or to enter into a purchase and sale agreement for the necessary resource with the forestry department, you need to prepare a certain set of documents:

application (the form is issued by the forestry department, its form may differ depending on the region of the country);
papers confirming the applicant's need for forest.

For example, if you want to obtain wood for home renovation, you will need to present to the forestry department the title documents for the land and the building, as well as a certificate from the local administration confirming that the wood has not been issued previously.

It is recommended to clarify the list with the forestry department of your region, as local authorities have the right to request additional documents.

How to get 150 cubic meters of timber from the state to build a house?

If you own a plot of land and want to build a residential building on it for regular residence, you will need a significant amount of wood for construction work.

You have the right to submit a request for free provision of materials from the state. As stated above, over a period of 25 years, a family can claim up to 150 cubic meters of wood.

To receive timber for building a house from the state, you must provide the following documents to the forestry enterprise:

application for the allocation of timber;
permission to build a private house (photocopy and original);
a certificate from the local government confirming that the forest was not previously allocated (if the resource was provided, the certificate must contain the year of its issue);
a document that can indicate that the applicant has benefits or grounds for priority receipt of forest (for example, confirming damage to a house or its destruction due to a fire).

Is it possible to get conifers for free?

In Russia, there is a current tradition of purchasing spruce and other coniferous trees for the New Year holidays.

Such a resource is considered extremely expensive, and therefore is not provided to citizens free of charge. It does not take into account that families need this spruce for their own needs.

Didn't find the answer to your question? Find out,

Legal regulation

The main aspects of providing timber to Russians are set out in Article 30 of the Forest Code:

Based on Part 1 of Article 30 of the Forest Code, citizens have the right to harvest wood for heating purposes, construction of buildings and their own needs.
According to Part 4 of Article 30 of the Forest Code, citizens can harvest wood for personal purposes under agreements for the sale and purchase of forest plantations.

Specific rules and regulations for the provision of timber to Russians are determined by regions at their own discretion.

Cost of preferential wood

In 2018-2020, you can get timber by participating in an auction. The provision of materials on an absolutely free basis is guaranteed only in small regions of Russia, for example, in Siberia and the Far East. Therefore, northerners do not have to worry about how to get wood from the state to build a house. Sometimes certain preferential categories may also qualify - a labor veteran, a disabled person of group 1, a large family and other socially vulnerable persons.

If they need to participate in an auction, they can be exempt from bidding and thus receive timber at a minimum cost or even a 50% discount. For other citizens, the price, again, varies depending on many factors, such as the natural conditions of the region, the duration of the heating season and others, and can range from 14 rubles to 220 per cubic meter. The average price for this year is 63 rubles.

Purchasing equipment for a sawmill

After completing all the necessary documents and having a room/area for production, you can start purchasing the sawmill itself. There are several types of machines for sawing downed logs, and it is recommended to choose them based on the volume of planned production:

Mini circular saws

Such equipment can be considered for industrial purposes only for small production volumes (for example, for your own small enterprise). These units are compact and consume minimal energy, but the nozzles require frequent replacement, and the performance leaves much to be desired.

Band sawmill

The band sawmill is considered the optimal equipment for small and medium-sized businesses.

On average, it processes 5-10 m3 per shift (depending on the manufacturer).

Main advantages:

minimal amount of waste (about 20%);
low energy consumption (average 50 W);
reasonable price (about $3.5 thousand).

The main disadvantage is the need to frequently change the sawing band, on average every 3 hours.

Frame sawmill

A frame sawmill is a machine with high productivity, capable of ensuring continuous operation of an enterprise with large production volumes. But it will require mandatory installation on a foundation and a large amount of energy. Another disadvantage is the high percentage of waste.

Features of raw material procurement

The sawn raw materials for the sawmill are logs/ridges of various tree species (the so-called “round timber”).

You get it like this:

Forest felling

There are two ways to fell trees: uprooting or rootless felling. The most common is the second one. This type of logging work is carried out using portable motor saws or felling machines. The trunks are cut down at ground level, at the root, or leaving stumps (the permitted method of cutting is discussed with the forestry department).

The forest is uprooted with the help of bulldozers, but this method is used only if the cleared land is intended for agricultural land, road construction or housing.

Technological process of logging

The main requirement for a tree feller is to fell the tree in a given direction:

according to the technological scheme developed for a given cutting area (all trees fall in the same direction);
in a direction that is calculated individually in difficult cases.

Such calculations are necessary because it is quite difficult to predict the direction of a tree’s natural fall - the influence of natural factors is great (the direction and strength of the wind, the tilt of the trunk, the shape of the crown, etc.). Incorrect technology or inexperience of the feller can lead to industrial injuries, damage to equipment, destruction of other plantings and forest undergrowth (which is punishable by serious fines).

Afterwards, the fallen trees are cleared of branches and twigs (the waste must be removed and disposed of). The logs are sawn into logs (standard length: 5.5 - 6.5 m for coniferous and 4 - 4.5 m for hardwood), sorted by diameter, species, quality, tied, placed on timber trucks or special trailers with fences and transported to the sawmill shop.

Free forest for the population

Citizens are not currently provided with free services and resources; the realities of modern life are different. But still, the state is trying to help the population with various programs, benefits, and subsidies. The provision of timber for construction or repair work is subject to payment, but there is still an exception to this rule.

In order to understand the issue and make an attempt to purchase timber for construction free of charge, you need to study certain articles of the Forest Code and other legislative acts in this area.

Traditionally, timber materials are provided to the population by logging organizations and farms through an auction, at one price or another, depending on the type of wood. Individuals and legal entities take part in such auctions.

Most organizations that have timber are commercial, so they try to get the maximum profit from sales and set a market price for the product. But is it possible for a young family to get a tree outside of an auction? What does the Forest Code say about this?

What should you consider when appealing this article? You cannot bring wood to your site, and then process it and sell wooden products or blanks for profit.

There are also clarifications on this issue in some regional and territorial laws relating to logging and wood sales.

Stages and requirements

The state provides timber without payment to such categories of the population as war veterans, disabled people, and other beneficiaries.

Another category that has the right to free allocation of a limited amount of cubic meters of forest is the small peoples of Siberia and the Far East. If representatives of these nationalities live on their own land (where their ancestors lived), they may also not pay for the amount of timber specified by law.

Perhaps the issuance of the resource will not be free, but at half the cost, but this is also very profitable. Those who do not fall into these categories will need to pay for the material.

Receipt of timber does not mean that it is brought to the population's plots. Citizens themselves organize procurement if they need wood building materials or firewood.
State bodies dealing with forest resources can only determine the area where a citizen will harvest wood for construction, repairs, or for heating a house.

Procedure for allocating forest for construction

Citizens can receive forest in the form of a standing plot.

You can cut it out yourself or with the help of harvesting companies.

In addition, you need to not only remove the trees, but also put the felling site in order after yourself.

To export wood, you must obtain permission from the forestry department.

The forestry department will issue permits only when everything is removed and ready for transportation.

It is often during the logging process that citizens encounter problems. Not everyone can correctly assess the condition of the plot. There are cases when, instead of the required 150 cubic meters, only about 100 cubic meters can be obtained from the allocated area.

In addition, when processing the wood, the part will be considered unsuitable for construction due to its thickness and dimensions.

This is often used by private logging companies that offer people ready-made wood in exchange for a plot. As a result, a person receives only 15 cubic meters instead of 150.

List of documents for registration

To register a forest for the construction, reconstruction or repair of a residential building and outbuildings, you must contact the local administration with an application.

The list of required documents is not approved by law; it is different for each region.

In the application, the citizen indicates for what needs he needs wood. If he plans to use it as fuel, he will need to provide a certificate of the presence of wood-burning stoves in the house.

To build a residential building, you must provide along with the application:

Permission to build a house.
Confirmation of ownership of the site.
A certificate from local government authorities stating that the forest has not previously been allocated. If the issuance has already taken place, it is necessary to indicate the time frame when it was carried out.
A copy of the applicant's passport.

It will not be possible to get wood at a reduced price if the family has an apartment and wants to build a summer house. Only those whose house is declared unsafe can count on a positive decision.

A commission is created to review the application. It includes representatives of the village administration; employees of the architectural committee and the department of forestry protection and environmental management may also be present.

If a positive decision is made to receive, the citizen enters into a purchase and sale agreement with the forestry enterprise.

The state verifies the intended use of wood through routine inspections. If the forest was intended for housing construction, then the inspection of the house under construction can be carried out by representatives of the prosecutor's office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as inspectors of the state forest protection.

Dear readers!

We describe typical ways to resolve legal issues, but each case is unique and requires individual legal assistance.

Is it possible to get a forest plot for felling?

A forest plot can be obtained either with the help of some companies or independently.
In both cases, the entire process is accompanied by the necessary legal documents. Let's look at how you can do this yourself, and in what order to proceed.

First you need to decide for what purpose you need to get a plot:

For personal purposes, for collecting firewood for heating houses, saw logs for own needs.
For commercial purposes, that is, the resulting lumber will be sold.
Laying pipelines or roads.

But regardless of the goals, it is important to comply with the law and all regulations for the use of the allocated land. So here's what you need to do:

If you are going to get a place as the owner of a residential premises that is heated with wood, then you need to contact the forestry department at the location of the house. After all, according to the law, such citizens are allocated a plot of land for felling once a year. You must submit an application to the forestry department and document that you actually live in a house that is heated with wood. You can obtain such a document from local authorities. In the application or separately (consult the forestry department), indicate all the primary data, namely address, full name and information from the passport. Also indicate the full name of the forestry in whose territory you intend to cut down. Next, the goal is important. In our case, this is “for your own needs” and the amount of wood that you want to receive from the allocated territory

It is important to consider that each specific region has a separate standard for the amount of firewood. Well, you have the right to calculate the volume itself based on the area of the heated living space

Keep your preferred wood characteristics in mind. After submitting an application with a document confirming residence, a lease agreement for a forest plot is drawn up. It is this document that will allow the wood to be cut down and removed without hindrance. Without it, such actions are considered illegal. If the outcome is good, this could result in a fine and full compensation for damages.

But you can’t cut down absolutely all vegetation. The forestry regulations specify the rules by which logging should be carried out. You can selectively cut down only those that:

knocked down;
have dried out or are just beginning to dry out;
damaged by pests or have been sick for a long time.

There are areas where clear cutting is permitted. These are the places where the forest has lost its biological stability.

Please note: another prerequisite is to clean the plot after completion of felling. You need to remove branches, tall stumps, household waste. If this condition is not met, then the environmental commission that controls this will not accept the site and will impose a large fine

If this condition is not met, the environmental commission that controls this will not accept the site and will impose a large fine.

Procedure for allocating forest for construction

How will the wood extract be processed:

Citizens provide the collected documents to the forestry department

Having studied them, he provides a plot (site) where trees can be cut down either independently or by inviting specialists from cutting companies. It is important not just to cut down trees, to remove them. Users are also required to tidy up by cleaning the area after themselves. The forestry department gives a separate permit for the removal of chopped wood when everything is ready (the site has been cleaned and checked by representatives of the organization). Sometimes citizens on the spot face various problems

For example, it is difficult to determine the productivity of a plot by eye. It happens that instead of the desired 150 cubes, only 100 are obtained. Another difficulty is that the wood turns out to be different, unsuitable for construction. Wrong size, wrong thickness. Logging companies are always on the lookout for situations like this. They immediately offer to exchange, instead of chopped “raw” wood, give already processed logs. After this, instead of the desired 150, a person will receive somewhere around 15-20 cubic meters.

Distance from the fence to the forest according to fire safety

SNiP 2.07.01-89 defines the minimum distance from the fence to the forest as 15 m according to fire safety standards and regulations. More precisely, this is a standard for the border of the site, since the fence can be moved deeper into the site.

The house, if there are no buildings nearby, is located at a distance of 3 meters from the fence. It is necessary to measure from the foundation or elements protruding more than 0.5 m. To measure the distance from the forest to the fence of a private house, the nearest tree is selected and the shortest distance to the center of the trunk is determined.

Standards for the location of buildings on individual housing construction and SNT sites

Based on SNiP 30-02-97 as amended in 2021 and SP 53.13330.2011, the distance from the fence to wild perennial plants is determined as follows:

4 m – tall trees such as birch, poplar;
2 m – medium, including oak and maple;
1 m – bush.

According to the law, a fire-prevention and sanitary free space with a width of at least 1 m must be created along the fence. Perennial plants growing on the outside of the fence are removed by the forestry department or the management of the cooperative.

Distance to road

You can independently cut down trees that interfere with your garden and garden only within 1 meter of the fence if they show signs of wild growth. The rest are removed only with the written consent of both administrations, even if it is impossible to tolerate branches hanging over the fence and vegetable garden, blocking the sun. Otherwise, they may be charged with damaging natural resources.

Construction according to the approved project

It is possible to accurately determine the distance from the cottage village to the forest only according to the development plan approved by the local administration and land management authority when alienating land for non-commercial use. If, after the approval of the project, the boundaries of the forest were changed, not a single building that fell into the sanitary zone will be demolished.

Site development standards

The plots remain in the possession of their owners within the same boundaries.

The distance of individual housing construction plots from the forest located within the city limits is determined according to the standards for rural settlements and dacha cooperatives. According to the old standards - 15 m, in the new edition the distance is increased to 30 m. There have been changes in its status. This standard has been transferred from legislative to advisory. The distance can be reduced by agreement with the neighbor, that is, the forestry department, and obtain the consent of the Ministry of Emergency Situations - the fire department.