Mushroom foraging laws in Ohio
Compiled from official sources; not legal advice. Rules change. Confirm with the land manager or the agency before you pick.
Summary
Ohio state forest rules allow gathering mushrooms that are not endangered or threatened, except in wilderness areas, nature preserves and posted areas. State park rules allow carrying away mushrooms for personal use but also contain a collector's-permit rule for fungi, so ask the park office. Wild mushrooms cannot be sold to licensed restaurants or stores unless they meet Ohio's approved-source rules.
Public land
State forests: the rule lists berries, nuts, fruits, cones, seeds and mushrooms that may be gathered and removed, if the species is not endangered or threatened, but not in areas designated as wilderness, designated nature preserves, or other areas designated or posted (OAC 1501:3-2-06). State parks and other Parks and Watercraft areas: rule 1501:46-3-10 allows mushrooms to be carried away, reportedly for personal use in unposted areas during daylight. Rule 1501:46-3-27 separately says no one may collect plants, animals, fungi or geologic materials in areas the division administers without a collector's permit, with some exceptions. The two rules do not explain how they fit together, so check with the park office.
Permits
State forests: the rule does not require a permit for gathering mushrooms. State parks: rule 1501:46-3-27 requires a collector's permit from the chief of the division to collect fungi, with exceptions for licensed hunters and fishers and designated nature study areas; rule 1501:46-3-10 lists mushrooms among items that may be carried away. Confirm with the park.
Limits
The rules give no number or weight limit for mushrooms.
Selling
Ohio's food rule (OAC 3717-1-03.1(F)) says mushroom species picked in the wild are not permitted for sale or service in a food service operation or retail food establishment, with exceptions for cultivated wild species and packaged product from a regulated processing plant. The Ohio Department of Agriculture says selling to a licensed retailer or restaurant requires inspection under the Produce Safety Rule so the mushrooms meet the approved-source requirement. It also says raw mushroom sales to individuals under $25,000 a year (adjusted for inflation) do not need an ODA inspection.
Sources
- Ohio Admin. Code 1501:3-2-06 - State forests
- Ohio Admin. Code 1501:46-3-10 - Removal of plants and other natural materials
- Ohio Admin. Code 1501:46-3-27 - Collecting prohibited without permit
- Ohio Admin. Code 3717-1-03.1 - Food sources
- Ohio Department of Agriculture - Mushrooms fact sheet (March 2026)
Last verified: November 11, 2026