Bristol, PA Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)

Bristol Borough regulates fireworks facilities through the Zoning Code, Use 4CC Sale or Storage of Fireworks in § 27-320, which covers facilities engaged in the storage or sale of fireworks. The Code defines fireworks as any combustible or explosive composition, substance or article prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or an audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration or detonation, and names blank cartridges, toy cannons, firecrackers, torpedoes, skyrockets, Roman candles and aerial fireworks.

Siting rules. No fireworks sales or storage use can be located within 300 feet of any residential use or residential district. The facility must be no closer than 250 feet from any facility selling or dispensing gasoline, propane or other such flammable products, and no closer than 250 feet from any facility licensed to sell consumer fireworks. It must be in a stand alone building no larger than 12,000 square feet, from which no other uses are permitted, and served by public water and sewer.

Operating rules. The facility must be licensed by the Department of Agriculture in accordance with the licensing requirements set by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Storage areas must be separated by appropriately rated fire separation from wholesale or retail sale areas to which a purchaser may be admitted. The facility must have a monitored burglar and fire alarm system, and hours of operation are no earlier than 9:00 a.m. and no later than 10:00 p.m. prevailing time. Subsection 4CC(10) adds that the facility must otherwise comply in all respects with the Fireworks Law, 35 P.S. § 1271 et seq., the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, 34 Pa. Code § 401 et seq.

Bristol Borough lists the use as a special exception in the HI Heavy Industrial District. Separately, the noise ordinance, § 10-503, exempts fireworks exhibits held under permit by the Borough of Bristol.