Columbia, SC Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)
Key Facts
- Nightly ban hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
- July 4th window
- 10 p.m.-1 a.m. next day
- New Year's window
- 10 p.m. Dec. 31-1 a.m. Jan. 1
- School/church/hospital buffer
- 600 feet
- 1st offense fine
- up to $100.00
- 3rd+ offense fine
- up to $500.00
- Repeat nuisance trigger
- 3 violations in 6 months
Summary
Columbia's Sec. 14-108 bars discharging fireworks between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. citywide, with extended windows on July 4th and New Year's Eve. It bans igniting fireworks within 600 feet of a church, hospital, or school, selling to children under 16 without a parent, and shooting fireworks from or at a vehicle.
(a)Except as otherwise provided in this section, it is unlawful for a person to use, discharge, shoot, or ignite fireworks or similar explosives within the city between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. This section may not be construed to prohibit the discharge or lighting of sparklers or similar pyrotechnic products which generate no appreciable noise at any time. For the purposes of this section, "fireworks" is a term as defined by S.C. Code 1976, § 40-56-20.(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), the permitted hours for the use of fireworks must be extended on the Fourth of July and New Year's Eve to include the hours of 10:00 p.m. July 4th—1:00 a.m. on July 5th and 10:00 p.m. December 31st—1:00a.m. January 1st.(d)A violation of this section is punishable by a civil penalty of up to $100.00 for a first offense, $250.00 for a second offense and $500.00 for a third or subsequent offense.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 35).
Full Breakdown
Adopted by Ord. No. 2022-083 and amended by Ord. No. 2023-093, Sec. C. Code 1976 § 40-56-20; sparklers and similar low-noise pyrotechnic products are exempt from the hourly ban at any time. m. m. m. m. January 1st. Subsection (c) layers on conduct bans that apply regardless of time: no negligent, reckless or intentional discharge toward a structure, animal or person; no detonating fireworks on someone else's land without consent; no sale of permissible fireworks to a child under 16 unless a parent is present; no igniting within 600 feet of a church, hospital, or public school; and no igniting inside a vehicle or throwing a lit firework at one.
Subsection (e) adds a repeat-offender nuisance rule: after three separate violations at a single location within six months, that location can be declared a public nuisance under Chapter 8, Article II. Subsection (g) makes clear the fireworks section does not override Chapter 9's fire prevention rules, and subsection (h) exempts any firework display permitted by both the city and the state fire marshal from the hourly, extended-hours, and 600-foot-buffer rules.
Violations & Fines
First-offense fireworks violations draw a civil penalty of up to $100.00, rising to $250.00 for a second offense and $500.00 for a third or later offense within five years of a prior violation; each incident is charged separately. A location cited three times in six months can be declared a public nuisance under Chapter 8, Article II, exposing the property to nuisance-abatement action on top of the fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time can I legally set off fireworks in Columbia?
How much is the fine for illegal fireworks in Columbia?
Can fireworks be used near a school in Columbia?
Is selling fireworks to teenagers legal in Columbia?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbia
How Columbia compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Compare Columbia to another location·View the South Carolina fire regulations overview
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