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Urban Lot Management Program

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I find out who owns the vacant lot next to me?

If you have the physical address for the vacant property, the County Assessor's office should be able to get this information for you.  If you have the assessor's parcel number (APN) you may look up property information at the corresponding county assessor's website, provided in the links below.

I've determined who owns the property - who is responsible for fuels reduction and hazard tree abatement?

It is the responsibility of the property owner to address these issues.  If the property belongs to a government agency, you may contact the agency directly with your concerns.  If the property is privately owned, you may contact the owner.  Support in resolving concerns on private lands may be available from your local fire department.

I want to cut down trees on my own property.  Who marks them and do I need a permit?

Yes, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency marks trees and issues permits for removal of trees/vegetation from private lands within the Lake Tahoe Basin.  If you live in the Incline Village/Crystal Bay area or in the Lake Valley Fire District (Meyers area), your local fire department has an agreement with the TRPA to mark trees on your property.

North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District
(775) 831-0351, Fax (775) 831-2072

Lake Valley Fire Department
(530) 577-3737

I have a National Forest lot next to my property.  Can I purchase it?

No, the Forest Service does not have the authority to transfer National Forest System lands acquired under the Santini-Burton Act to private ownership.  In some situations, the Act allows transfer of such lands to an appropriate state or local government agency with deed restrictions to protect the environmental quality.

The Forest Service was thinning next to my home and left slash piles.  When will they be burned?

The (slash) piles are stacked and left to cure for a minimum of one to two years in order to meet air quality standards and to ensure the slash will be consumed when burnt.  In addition, the number of available days to burn annually are influenced by the following factors:

1. The amount of precipitation (too much/little snow/rain)

2. Air quality control standards (limited amount of burn days)

3. The availability of crews to safely implement burning  practices

For specific information regarding plans to burn existing slash piles adjacent to your property, please contact us.

Can I take wood from the slash piles for firewood?

Not without a permit, although the Forest Service generally does not issue permits for removal of materials from slash piles.  The piles are constructed in such a way that they will burn properly.  Tearing apart piles for removal of fuel wood makes them difficult to burn.  For more information, or if there are any questions about permits, contact us.

The Forest Service cut trees on the lots in my neighborhood.  Can I pick up the logs from Forest Service urban lots for firewood?

In most cases, after project work is completed on urban lots, the area is opened to public fuel wood cutting.  Firewood cutting permits are sold annually at our main office.  For information on purchasing permits, please contact us.  In some cases, when only a small amount of wood has been cut, opening the area to the public is impractical.  In these cases, the Forest Service may issue a permit to an individual to clean up the wood.  In all cases you must have a permit to remove wood from National Forest System Lands.  It is important that a permit is issued, so that the Forest Service can help provide guidelines to maintain a healthy forest.  

The Forest Service lot adjacent to my home has dead trees and forest debris.  Can I help clean this up?

Yes, the Forest Service issues free permits to homeowners to clean up National Forest System lands directly adjacent to their home in order to reduce fuels and improve defensible space around their home.  This can include cleaning up dead wood, downed trees, forest debris, and thinning small trees.  For information on obtaining these permits, please contact us.

Can I temporarily store my wood pile or other personal property on a Forest Service urban lot?

No - storage of private property on public land is prohibited.  See encroachments for more information. 

I am building/remodeling a house.  Can I store construction materials on a Forest Service urban lot?

No - this is an encroachment and is prohibited.

Can my children build a treehouse on an urban lot next to my house?

No - this is an encroachment and is prohibited.  However, your children can play and have fun on urban lots, as long as their activities do not damage the resources the Forest Service is protecting.  Activities like playing frisbee or tag are allowed, but activities such as riding dirt bikes or building BMX trails on urban lots is not allowed.

Can I plant trees and flowers on a Forest Service lot next to my property?

The Forest Service does not authorize planting of non-native vegetation on National Forest System lands.  In addition, the Forest Service will not authorize planting of native vegetation on National Forest System lands for the purpose of residential landscaping.  If you feel restoration of the urban intermix parcel requires planting vegetation on the site, please contact us.  After the site is evaluated by the Forest Service, planting of native vegetation may be authorized.  Approved native vegetation will be site specific.

A bear dragged my neighbor's garbage onto Forest Service property.  Will the Forest Service clean up the mess?

No - The Forest Service does not have the staff or resources to police neighborhood trash.  However, when we are conducting other management activities on a parcel, we do clean up any trash present.  In isolated cases where a significant amount of refuse has been dumped on National Forest System lands, the Forest Service may do some clean-up depending on funding and resource availability.  

Homeowners within residential areas are responsible for securing their trash and keeping their neighborhoods clean.  In situations where your neighbor is continuously careless with his/her garbage,  you can contact your local code enforcement agency with your concerns. 

For litter and nuisance abatement in El Dorado County, you may contact Clean Tahoe at (530) 544-4210.

How can I help?

• Help fuels reduction!  Since 1991 the Forest Service has worked with adjoining property owners to reduce hazardous fuels and improve defensible space.  Please help us by getting a permit to clean up dead wood, downed trees, forest debris, and thin small trees.  
• Protect resources:  Be a good neighbor by ensuring that the use of your private property does not extend onto adjoining Forest Service lands.
• Participate in monitoring activities:  Help collect data on parcels in your neighborhood.  Please contact us for more information.
• Let us know about problems:  If you see potentially hazardous trees, noxious weed infestations, encroachments, or other conditions on National Forest System lands you feel we should know about, please contact us.

Can a group of homeowners help?

YES - although individuals can help, homeowner associations or community groups can be effective at a much greater level.  If you would like information on how a homeowner group can help, please contact us.

For more information, please contact the
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit