Jefferson County, CO Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing instrument
- Policy Manual Part 3, Ch. 6, Sec. 2
- Adopted by
- Resolution CC23-150
- Effective date
- July 3, 2023
- Who can declare a ban
- BCC or Jefferson County Sheriff
- Trigger
- High forest or grass fire danger
- Maximum fine
- $600 per violation
- Enforcement
- Civil infraction, County Attorney
Summary
Unincorporated Jefferson County has no year-round fireworks sale ban, but the Sheriff or Board of County Commissioners can declare one whenever wildfire danger is high, and every fireworks violation during a declared ban carries a $600 civil fine.
a. Pursuant to the authority granted in Section 30-15-401, C.R.S., the BCC or the Sheriff shall have the authority to declare a ban or restriction on the sale, use or possession of fireworks, including permissible fireworks as defined in Sections 24-33.5-2001(5) and (8), C.R.S., when the BCC or Sheriff determine that the danger of forest or grass fires is high based on competent evidence as defined in Section 30-15-401(n.5), C.R.S. b. The sale of fireworks shall be banned any time in which the use or possession of fireworks in Jefferson County is prohibited by order of the Jefferson County Sheriff from time of issuance until midnight in which the event expires. ... Violations of any provision of the Ordinance shall be a civil infraction and the penalty for a violation of any provision of this Ordinance shall be a fine of not more than six hundred dollars ($600) for each separate violation.
Full Breakdown
Jefferson County's Ordinance Authorizing the Declaration of Open Fire and/or Firework Sale, Use or Possession Bans (Policy Manual Part 3, Chapter 6, Section 2, adopted by Resolution CC23-150, effective July 3, 2023) does not itself ban fireworks outright. S. S. 5-2001(5) and (8) (items like sparklers, fountains, and ground spinners that do not fly or explode). S. 5), and fire-ban declarations also follow the state's Annual Operating Plan published by the State Forest Service each year by May 1. Once the Sheriff issues a possession-or-use ban, retailers must stop selling fireworks immediately, and the sales ban runs from the moment of issuance until midnight of the day the underlying fire restriction expires.
S. 16-2-201, not a criminal case. The ordinance is written for wildfire preservation of public health and safety, so it takes effect immediately on adoption whenever the BCC issues a declaration, without a separate notice-and-hearing cycle.
Violations & Fines
Selling, using, or possessing fireworks in violation of a declared ban is a civil infraction carrying a fine of not more than $600 per separate violation, enforced through the C.R.S. 16-2-201 penalty-assessment procedure. The County Attorney prosecutes all civil infractions under the ordinance, and each act of sale, use, or possession during an active ban is charged as its own separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a permanent fireworks ban in unincorporated Jefferson County?
Does the ban cover sparklers and other 'safe and sane' fireworks?
What happens to fireworks retailers when a ban is declared?
What is the penalty for violating a Jefferson County fireworks ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jefferson County
How Jefferson County compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Compare Jefferson County to another location·View the Colorado fire regulations overview
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