Cleveland, OH Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Cleveland Codified Ordinances Ch. 387
- General sale/use ban
- No fireworks without Fire Chief permit
- Permit fee
- $75.00 per permit
- Sale/gift to minors
- Banned for anyone under 18
- Permit term
- Up to 1 year; casual-use temp permit 30 days
- Penalty
- First-degree misdemeanor; each day separate
- Sparkler exception
- Wire-stick sparklers exempt under § 387.04(d)
Summary
Cleveland bans selling, possessing, or setting off consumer fireworks like firecrackers, roman candles, and fire balloons anywhere in the city unless the Fire Chief has issued a permit. Violators face a first-degree misdemeanor, with each day of a continuing violation counted as a separate offense.
(e) A person shall not ship, receive, store, possess, sell, use, or discharge any explosives, pyrotechnics, fireworks, lasers, or flame effects within the City except as permitted under Sections 387.06, 387.09, and 387.10 of this chapter... (f) A person shall not sell, offer for sale, or have in his or her possession or custody, any squib, rocket, cracker, roman candle, or fire balloon, or any other combustible fireworks, or any article for the making of a pyrotechnic display, within the City, except as authorized by a permit issued by the City Fire Chief under Sections 387.06 and 387.07 of this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-28: Current through legislation passed September 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
10. 07. 03(b) additionally bars selling, giving, or delivering explosives or fireworks to anyone under 18. S. Department of Transportation: ordinary consumer fireworks such as firecrackers and bottle rockets get no exception. 06 pays a $75 fee, and the Division of Fire can also bill the actual cost of plan review, inspection, and overtime wages for oversight. Permits are capped at one year, and temporary permits for casual use of consumable dangerous ordnance expire within 30 days. The Cleveland Fire Prevention Bureau's Certified Fire Safety Inspectors must be present for any permitted use, and the Fire Chief or a representative may attend and position themselves as needed at any permitted display.
Violations & Fines
Under § 387.99(a), violating any provision of Chapter 387 that is not a felony under state law is a first-degree misdemeanor, and each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense. The chapter can be enforced through a criminal proceeding or through a compliance order from the Fire Chief or designee; orders may be appealed to the Cleveland Board of Building Standards and Building Appeals within 30 days, though filing an appeal does not automatically stay the order. The City may also pursue civil collection, civil penalties, or an injunction to enforce the chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I legally set off firecrackers in my Cleveland backyard?
Are sparklers legal in Cleveland?
What does a Cleveland fireworks permit cost?
What happens if I'm caught with illegal fireworks in Cleveland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cleveland
How Cleveland compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Compare Cleveland to another location·View the Ohio fire regulations overview
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Fireworks in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cuyahoga County handle fireworks.