Fireworks: Manchester vs Nashua
How do fireworks rules compare between Manchester, NH and Nashua, NH?
Manchester has fewer restrictions than Nashua.
Manchester, NH
Hillsborough County
Manchester follows New Hampshire's permissive fireworks laws. Consumer fireworks (Class C/1.4G) have been legal since 2004 under RSA 160-C for persons 21 and older.
View full Manchester rules →Nashua, NH
Hillsborough County
Nashua City Code Chapter 160 (Fireworks) prohibits the sale, purchase, possession, use, or explosion of any fireworks without a permit issued in accordance with RSA 160-B and RSA 160-C. The ordinance further states that 'there shall be no permits granted, except to the City of Nashua for programs and displays under its control, for the sale, purchase, possession, use or explosion of Class C fireworks' - the consumer (permissible) fireworks otherwise allowed elsewhere in New Hampshire. The Fire Marshal may grant a permit for professional fireworks displays when proper safety is provided. For permitted displays, only color shells, cakes, and whistlers may be used, discharged, or displayed after 10:00 p.m.; salute, reports, and thunder-shell fireworks are prohibited between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Nashua is on the NH State Fire Marshal's Community Restrictions List as a city that does not allow permissible (consumer) fireworks.
View full Nashua rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Manchester | Nashua |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Status | Consumer fireworks legal since 2004 | - |
| Age Requirement | 21 years or older to purchase | - |
| State Law | RSA 160-C | - |
| Permit Needed | No permit for consumer use | - |
| Display Fireworks | Require permit under RSA 160-B | - |
| City Ban | - | All Class C / consumer fireworks prohibited (Ch. 160) |
| State Authority for Local Ban | - | RSA 160-C:6 (Local Option) |
| Display Permit | - | Fire Marshal may issue (proper safety required) |
| Time Limit on Displays | - | No salute / reports / thunder shells 10 p.m.-8 a.m. |
| After 10 p.m. (permitted shows) | - | Color shells, cakes, whistlers only |
| State List | - | On NH Fire Marshal Community Restrictions List |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Manchester FAQ
Are fireworks legal in Manchester?
Yes, consumer fireworks are legal in New Hampshire for persons 21 and older under RSA 160-C. No permit needed for private use.
What time can I set off fireworks?
Manchester may have local time restrictions. Generally allowed 10 AM-midnight, with extended hours on July 4th and New Year's Eve.
Nashua FAQ
Are consumer fireworks legal in Nashua?
No. Nashua City Code Chapter 160 prohibits the sale, purchase, possession, use, or explosion of any fireworks without a permit, and expressly states that 'there shall be no permits granted, except to the City of Nashua for programs and displays under its control, for the sale, purchase, possession, use or explosion of Class C fireworks.' Nashua appears on the NH State Fire Marshal's Permissible Fireworks Community Restrictions List.
Can I buy fireworks elsewhere in New Hampshire and use them in Nashua?
No. RSA 160-C:6 (Local Option) lets municipalities prohibit the display or possession of permissible fireworks within the city, and Nashua's Chapter 160 makes possession or use of Class C fireworks illegal regardless of where they were purchased. RSA 160-C still requires you to be 21 (18 with valid military ID) to buy permissible fireworks anywhere in NH.
Are there time restrictions for fireworks displays in Nashua?
Yes. Even for permitted professional displays, it is unlawful to use, discharge, or display salute, reports, or thunder-shell fireworks between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., and after 10:00 p.m. only color shells, cakes, and whistlers may be used. Display permits are issued by the Nashua Fire Marshal under Chapter 160 only when proper safety is provided.
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