Adams County, CO Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing code
- 2024 International Fire Code § 5601.1.3
- Adopting ordinance
- Ordinance No. 4, effective July 1, 2026
- Max fine
- $1,000 per violation, each day separate
- Legal exception
- State "permissible fireworks," C.R.S. § 12-28-101(8)
- Public displays
- Permitted only under IFC § 5608
- Stand sales
- Licensed temporary stands under DSR Sec. 4-05-02-06
Summary
Adams County bans possessing, manufacturing, storing, selling, handling or using fireworks anywhere in the unincorporated area under the adopted International Fire Code. The ban does not reach state-legal "permissible fireworks" like sparklers and fountains, or licensed public displays. Violators face fire code penalties enforced by the county fire code official.
5601.1.3 Fireworks. The possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling and use of fireworks are prohibited.
Exceptions:
1. Storage and handling of fireworks as allowed in Section 5604.
2. Manufacture, assembly and testing of fireworks as allowed in Section 5605.
3. The use of fireworks for fireworks displays as allowed in Section 5608.
4. The possession, storage, sale, handling and use of specific types of Division 1.4G fireworks where allowed by applicable laws, ordinances and regulations, provided that such fireworks and facilities comply with NFPA 1124, CPSC 16 CFR Parts 1500 and 1507, and DOT 49 CFR Parts 100-185, as applicable for consumer fireworks.
5. The sale or use of permissible fireworks, as defined in C.R.S. § 12-28-101(8), as may be amended.
6. The sale of permissible fireworks from temporary stands in accordance with Sec. 4-05-02-06 of the Adams County Development Standards and Regulations, as may be amended.
Full Breakdown
Section 5601.1.3 of the 2024 International Fire Code, adopted by Adams County Ordinance No. 4 (effective July 1, 2026), prohibits the possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling and use of fireworks throughout unincorporated Adams County. The ban is broad by design: it reaches every stage from making fireworks to lighting them, not just retail sale.
Six exceptions carve out narrow, code-referenced activities. Storage and handling are allowed only as permitted under IFC § 5604, and manufacture, assembly and testing only under IFC § 5605. Public fireworks displays are allowed under IFC § 5608. Division 1.4G novelty fireworks may be possessed, stored, sold, handled and used where separately allowed, provided they meet NFPA 1124, CPSC 16 CFR Parts 1500 and 1507, and DOT 49 CFR Parts 100-185.
The most relevant exception for residents is exception 5: the sale or use of "permissible fireworks" as defined in C.R.S. § 12-28-101(8), the ground-and-hand-held novelty devices (sparklers, fountains, snakes and similar items that do not fly or explode) that Colorado law treats as legal outside the true fireworks ban. Exception 6 lets vendors sell those same permissible fireworks from temporary stands licensed under Sec. 4-05-02-06 of the county's Development Standards and Regulations.
Aerial and audible fireworks, such as bottle rockets, firecrackers and Roman candles, or anything that explodes or leaves the ground under its own power, remain prohibited county-wide regardless of season, including on July 4th and New Year's Eve, unless part of a permitted public display.
Violations & Fines
A fireworks violation is enforced as a fire code violation under IFC § 113.4, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 per offense under C.R.S. § 30-15-402, with each day a violation continues after notice treated as a separate offense. The fire code official can also issue a compliance or stop-work order; continuing the prohibited activity after that order carries its own fine of up to $1,000 per violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set off fireworks in unincorporated Adams County?
Are sparklers legal in Adams County?
Where can vendors legally sell fireworks in the county?
What is the penalty for illegal fireworks in Adams County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Adams County
How Adams County compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Compare Adams County to another location·View the Colorado fire regulations overview
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