Monterey County, CA Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- MCC § 10.68.020
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Monterey County only
- Safe and sane fireworks
- Still banned under § 10.68.020
- Exceptions
- Ag/wildlife, signaling, model rockets, special effects
- Exception requires
- Prior fire jurisdiction/Fire Warden approval
- Local penalty section
- Repealed 1993 (Ord. 3659)
- Default penalty now
- Up to $1,000 fine / 6 months jail
Summary
Monterey County Code § 10.68.020 bans using, discharging, or possessing for sale, use, or discharge any fireworks anywhere in the unincorporated area of the county. Even state-legal "safe and sane" fireworks fall inside this ban, and only a short list of exempt devices can be used, and only with prior approval from the responsible fire jurisdiction or the County Fire Warden.
No person shall use, discharge, or possess for the purpose of sale, use or discharge any fireworks within the unincorporated area of Monterey County.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56).
Full Breakdown
010 by cross-reference to state law: it pulls in anything meeting the definition in Health and Safety Code § 12511, including dangerous fireworks under § 12505 and safe and sane fireworks under § 12529, but carves out auto flares and other emergency signaling devices used for actual warning purposes. 020 then bans use, discharge, or possession for sale or discharge of any of that within the unincorporated territory of Monterey County. 030 opens a narrow exception: agricultural and wildlife fireworks (Health and Safety Code § 12503), emergency signaling devices used for non-emergency purposes (§ 12506), exempt fireworks (§ 12508), model rocket engines (§ 12520), and special effects (§ 12532) are excluded from the ban, but only if approval is first secured from the responsible fire jurisdiction or the County Fire Warden in unincorporated territory that sits outside any local fire jurisdictional area. 040, was repealed by Ord. 3659 in 1993, so it no longer sets a fireworks-specific fine.
Violations & Fines
Because § 10.68.040 was repealed, a violation of the fireworks ban falls under the County Code's general default penalty at § 1.20.040: a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in the Monterey County Jail, or both, unless the County instead charges it as an infraction, which carries fines of up to $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second within a year, and $1,000 for a third.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are any fireworks legal in unincorporated Monterey County?
Are "safe and sane" fireworks allowed here?
What's the penalty for setting off illegal fireworks?
Does the fireworks ban apply inside Salinas or Monterey?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monterey County
How Monterey County compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·California rules heatmap·Compare Monterey County to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.