Under SCCC Chapter 7.92 (Fire Code), all fireworks - including 'Safe and Sane' fireworks - are prohibited everywhere in Santa Cruz County, including on all beaches and in all four incorporated cities. The ban reflects extreme wildfire risk after the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire.
Santa Cruz County is one of the California counties where every form of fireworks is illegal, including the 'Safe and Sane' fireworks legal in some other counties. The countywide ban is grounded in SCCC Chapter 7.92 (which adopts the California Fire Code) and is mirrored by the cities of Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Capitola, and Scotts Valley. Possession, sale, use, and storage of fireworks are all prohibited. The City of Santa Cruz imposes triple fines during the July 2-5 Safety Enhancement period under its own ordinance, and Santa Cruz County Chapter 8.34 (Safety Enhancement Zones) authorizes similar elevated penalties for noise/nuisance violations on designated holidays. After the August 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire (86,509 acres burned, 1,490 structures lost), enforcement has been a top wildfire-prevention priority for CAL FIRE CZU and local fire districts.
Fireworks possession is a misdemeanor under Cal. Health & Safety Code Sections 12500-12728 (the State Fireworks Law); fines start around $1,000 per offense and can exceed $50,000 for substantial quantities, plus possible jail time. Anyone whose fireworks cause a wildfire is liable for suppression costs under Cal. H&S 13009 and may face felony charges.
Santa Cruz County, CA
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See how Santa Cruz County's fireworks rules stack up against other locations.
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