Burke County, NC Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)
Key Facts
- General rule
- Fireworks banned in county parks
- Exception
- Approved public exhibition only
- Approval required from
- Fire marshal and parks director
- Applicant must provide
- Indemnification agreement and liability insurance
- Denial grounds
- Public safety or park resource protection
- Civil penalty
- $100.00 per citation, § 50-123
Summary
Setting off fireworks in a Burke County park is banned outright unless the display is part of an authorized public exhibition approved in advance by the county fire marshal and the parks and recreation director, under Code § 50-114(c). Organizers must apply for a special use permit, sign an indemnification agreement, and carry liability and property-damage insurance in amounts the county sets before any pyrotechnics display can proceed.
The possession or use of pyrotechnics (fireworks) is prohibited except for pyrotechnics exhibited, used, or discharged in connection with an authorized public exhibition and approved by the county fire marshal, and parks and recreation director, or designee. Persons wishing to possess or use pyrotechnics in connection with a public exhibition, such as a public celebration, shall file an application for a special use permit with the appropriate park or county representative. All applicants shall enter an indemnification agreement with the county and obtain general liability and property damage insurance, with limits as determined by the county or its designee ... The county manager, fire marshal, parks director or designee may deny an application as deemed necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, or to protect the natural resources of the park unit.
Full Breakdown
Section 50-114(c) of the parks and recreation article makes it unlawful to possess or use pyrotechnics, meaning fireworks, anywhere in a county park, with one narrow exception: a public exhibition, such as a community celebration, that has been approved in advance by both the county fire marshal and the parks and recreation director or a designee. To use that exception, an organizer must file an application for a special use permit with the appropriate park or county representative, enter an indemnification agreement with the county, and obtain general liability and property damage insurance at limits the county or its designee sets, covering injury or property damage the exhibition might cause.
The county manager, fire marshal, parks director or designee can deny the application outright whenever necessary to protect public health, safety and welfare, or to protect the park's natural resources, so the permit is discretionary rather than guaranteed. S. 1. S. S. 153A-129, but the operative local rule for fireworks in the parks is § 50-114(c) itself. S. 00 civil penalty under § 50-123, with citations payable to the finance officer within 72 hours.
Violations & Fines
Possessing or setting off fireworks in a Burke County park without an approved special use permit is unlawful under § 50-114(c) and, like other parks-article offenses, carries a misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4 plus a $100.00 civil penalty under § 50-123. A written citation is payable to the county finance officer within 72 hours, and each day of continued violation is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I light fireworks at a Burke County park for a family event?
How do I get approval for a fireworks display at a public celebration?
Can the county turn down my fireworks permit application?
What happens if I set off fireworks without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Burke County
How Burke County compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Compare Burke County to another location·View the North Carolina fire regulations overview
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