Burien, WA Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)

Burien regulates fireworks in BMC Chapter 5.30, adopted by the Burien City Council to implement Chapter 70.77 RCW. Section 5.30.020 makes it unlawful to offer for retail sale or sell any fireworks within the city. Section 5.30.040 bars anyone from igniting, exploding or discharging fireworks, and it also bars a responsible person from allowing someone else to do so on their property. Section 5.30.045 makes possession unlawful on the same terms. The only carve-out is a state license plus a city permit granted by the local fire official under RCW 70.77.260(2) for public display, or RCW 70.77.311(2) for use by an individual or group for a religious or other specified purpose on an approved date and at an approved location.

The responsible person definition in BMC 5.30.010 reaches the people with the right to control the property when the discharge occurs, whether or not they are present, the person in immediate control, and anyone who organizes, supervises, sponsors, conducts, allows or controls access to the discharge. Property covers private homes, rented premises, yards, garages and apartments. A host or landlord can therefore be cited for guests' fireworks. The chapter applies to all fireworks except "toy caps" (BMC 5.30.090).

Public displays need a permit. The annual permit fee is $100.00, payable to King County Fire Protection District No. 2 or the North Highline Fire District, as appropriate, and applications go to the same district at least 14 days before the event (BMC 5.30.050 and 5.30.070). Under BMC 5.30.080, a state-licensed pyrotechnician must run the display, the site plan must show everything within a 500-foot radius, combustible debris must be cleared for 300 feet in all directions, and the site needs two 2A-rated pressurized water extinguishers and one fire blanket. Permits are nontransferable and can be revoked at once for noncompliance or for dangerous weather.