Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Anoka County, MN Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)

Heavy Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Statute
Minn. Stat. §§624.20-624.25
Banned
Firecrackers, rockets, Roman candles, aerial fireworks
Legal novelties
Sparklers ≤100g, snakes, smoke devices, poppers
Age limit
18+, photo ID required to buy novelties
Penalty (35+ lbs)
Up to 364 days, $3,000 fine
Penalty (other)
Up to 90 days, $1,000 fine

Summary

Minnesota Statutes §§ 624.20-624.25 make it a crime, not just a local rule, to sell, possess, use, or explode fireworks anywhere in Anoka County, including its incorporated cities. Firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles, and all similar explosive or aerial devices are banned outright; only novelty sparklers, snakes, and certain smoke or noisemaker items under strict weight limits are legal.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Anoka County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

624.20 FIREWORKS. Subdivision 1. Regulation. (a) As used in sections 624.20 to 624.25, the term "fireworks" means any substance or combination of substances or article prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or an audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration, or detonation, and includes blank cartridges, toy cannons, and toy canes in which explosives are used, the type of balloons which require fire underneath to propel them, firecrackers, torpedoes, skyrockets, Roman candles, daygo bombs, sparklers other than those specified in paragraph (c), or other fireworks of like construction, and any fireworks containing any explosive or inflammable compound, or any tablets or other device containing any explosive substance and commonly used as fireworks. 624.21 SALE, POSSESSION, AND USE OF FIREWORKS PROHIBITED. Except as otherwise provided in sections 624.20 to 624.25, it shall be unlawful for any person to offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at retail or wholesale, possess, advertise, use, or explode any fireworks.

Full Breakdown

Minn. 20, subdivision 1(a) defines "fireworks" broadly: any substance or article meant to produce a visible or audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration, or detonation, expressly naming blank cartridges, toy cannons, fire balloons, firecrackers, torpedoes, skyrockets, Roman candles, daygo bombs, and most sparklers. 22, licensed engineers doing acoustical testing, and out-of-state sales. Subdivision 1(c) carves a narrow legal category out of the general ban: wire or wood sparklers up to 100 grams of mixture, other non-explosive, non-aerial sparkling items up to 75 grams per tube (500 grams for multiple tubes), snakes and glow worms, smoke devices, and certain trick noisemakers such as party poppers and snappers, each under one-quarter grain of explosive mixture.

Even these novelty items may not be used on public property, and paragraph (c) requires photographic age verification before sale to anyone under 18. Subdivision 1(d) lets a city or county charge a retail licensing fee for selling these legal novelties, capped at $350 a year for sellers who deal only in them and $100 for other retailers, and bars local governments from imposing any other fee, restricting display of compliant items, or singling out a seller with extra bonding or insurance terms. 25 sets the penalties: up to 364 days and a $3,000 fine for 35 pounds or more of explosive fireworks, and up to 90 days and a $1,000 fine for any lesser amount or for any non-explosive fireworks violation.

Violations & Fines

A violation involving explosive fireworks weighing 35 pounds or more (gross container weight) is punishable by up to 364 days in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both, under Minn. Stat. § 624.25(1). Any lesser amount of explosive fireworks, or any amount of non-explosive fireworks such as bottle rockets or firecrackers, carries up to 90 days and a $1,000 fine under §624.25(2)-(3). Sheriff's deputies and local police enforce the ban statewide, including inside Anoka County.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set off firecrackers at my house in unincorporated Anoka County?
No. Minn. Stat. §624.21 bans possessing, using, or exploding fireworks anywhere in the state, including unincorporated Anoka County, with no exception for private property; the only fireworks anyone may legally use are the narrow novelty items listed in §624.20, subd. 1(c).
Are sparklers legal?
Wire or wood sparklers up to 100 grams of mixture are legal to buy and use, but not on public property, and a retailer must verify with photo ID that a buyer is at least 18 before selling them.
What happens if I get caught with a case of fireworks?
If the explosive fireworks weigh 35 pounds or more, you face up to 364 days in jail and a $3,000 fine under §624.25(1); a smaller amount, or any non-explosive fireworks, still carries up to 90 days and a $1,000 fine.
Can Anoka County charge a fee to sell legal sparklers?
Yes, but it is capped: §624.20, subd. 1(d) lets a local government charge up to $350 a year for a retailer who sells only novelty items and up to $100 for any other retailer, and it cannot add extra fees or restrictions beyond that.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Anoka County

All Anoka County rules

How Anoka County compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Compare Anoka County to another location·View the Minnesota fire regulations overview

Get notified when Fireworks in Anoka County, MN changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.