AKRON, OHIO– Summit County Fiscal Officer Kristen M. Scalise CPA, CFE is reminding consumers as cooler weather approaches, they should be alert when purchasing firewood. Fiscal Officer Scalise’s Weights & Measures inspectors enforce Ohio laws that protect consumers when they buy firewood.
Fiscal Officer Scalise offers the following guidelines to make sure consumers are receiving the correct amount of firewood:
- Firewood, in non-packaged forms, is sold by a measure called a cord or fraction of a cord. A cord is defined as 128 cubic feet when the wood is neatly stacked. A standard cord is 8 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 4 feet high.
- Measurement terms such as a rick, rack, face cord, pile, or truckload are strictly prohibited when advertising or selling firewood or stove wood.
- A seller must provide a buyer with an invoice that shows the seller’s name, address, phone number, price per cord, total amount, and type of wood purchased.
- Buyers should record the license plate number of the wood delivery truck. The delivered wood should be stacked in a cord or a fraction of a cord. Measure the stack (width x height x length) and contact the seller immediately if you did not receive the quantity purchased. Document the possible shortage by taking a picture of the stacked wood.
Fiscal Officer Scalise stated, “A license is required to sell or advertise the sale of firewood in Summit County. Because firewood is a taxable product all Firewood Dealers must have a valid Ohio retail vendor’s license”.
For additional information regarding firewood or to report a complaint, please call our Weights & Measures Department at 330-630-7226 or visit our website at http://fiscaloffice.summitoh.net and choose the Firewood Licensing link on our home page. Firewood and vendor licenses are available on our website.
