Deschutes County is one of Oregon's highest wildfire-risk jurisdictions, surrounded by Deschutes National Forest and dominated by dry ponderosa pine and high-desert fuels. Oregon law (ORS 480.110-165) bans any firework that flies, explodes, or travels more than 6 feet on the ground or 12 inches into the air. The City of Bend permanently banned the sale, possession, and use of all consumer fireworks in 2021. Fireworks are always illegal on Deschutes National Forest, BLM, and state forest lands under 36 CFR 261.52. Each summer the Board of County Commissioners enacts public use restrictions on county-owned property and unprotected lands that ban all personal fireworks for the duration of fire season.
Fireworks in Deschutes County are governed by Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 480 (ORS 480.110 through 480.165 — the Oregon Fireworks Law), Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) administrative rules in OAR Chapter 837, federal regulations on National Forest and BLM lands, annual public-use fire restriction orders adopted by the Board of County Commissioners, and incorporated city codes for Bend, Redmond, Sisters, and La Pine. Under ORS 480.120 it is unlawful to sell, keep for sale, possess, use, or explode any fireworks in Oregon except as specifically permitted. Retail (consumer) fireworks may only be sold by OSFM-permitted retailers between June 23 and July 6 each year. Even for retail-legal devices, Oregon prohibits any firework that flies into the air, explodes, or travels more than 6 feet on the ground or 12 inches into the air — this excludes bottle rockets, Roman candles, firecrackers, cherry bombs, M-80s, mortars, sky lanterns, missiles, and aerial repeaters, all of which are illegal in Oregon regardless of where they were purchased. Items that are legal at retail include cylindrical and cone fountains, ground spinners, wheels, flitter and wire-core sparklers, smoke devices, snakes, and party poppers (novelty items such as wire-core sparklers, snakes, and party poppers are not classified as fireworks under Oregon law). The City of Bend permanently prohibited the sale, possession, and use of all consumer fireworks in 2021 by ordinance, citing chronic drought and wildfire risk; only OSFM-licensed professional public displays (such as the annual Pilot Butte show) are permitted inside Bend city limits. Bend's ban does not include OSFM-classified novelty items (wire-core sparklers, smoke bombs, snakes, party poppers). The City of Redmond allows Oregon-legal retail fireworks in most areas but bans them in the Dry Canyon Parks System. The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners adopts an annual public-use restriction order each spring that prohibits fireworks (along with debris burning, target shooting with steel-core or tracer ammunition, and other ignition sources) on all county-owned property and on unprotected lands within the county for the duration of declared fire season — typically June 1 through October. Fireworks are always banned on Deschutes National Forest land under 36 CFR 261.52(f), on BLM land under 43 CFR 8365.1-6, on Oregon Department of Forestry-protected lands during fire season under ORS 477.535, and on all Oregon State Parks and ocean-shore beaches year-round. Public displays anywhere in Deschutes County require an OSFM display permit under ORS 480.130 and OAR Chapter 837 Division 12, a licensed pyrotechnic operator, advance notice to the local fire authority (Bend Fire & Rescue, Redmond Fire & Rescue, Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, La Pine Rural Fire Protection District, or Cloverdale Rural Fire), and proof of liability insurance.
Under ORS 480.165, the Oregon State Fire Marshal may impose a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation of the fireworks law, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense. An individual member of the public who possesses fireworks of a retail value less than $50 is exempt from the civil penalty. Use of illegal fireworks in prohibited areas can also be charged as a Class B misdemeanor under ORS 480.990, punishable by up to $2,500 in fines and up to 6 months in jail. The City of Bend treats illegal fireworks as a Class A civil infraction with fines up to $750 for a first offense; repeat offenders are also referred to OSFM for the additional $2,500 state penalty. Redmond imposes fines up to $500 for fireworks violations within city limits. Discharging fireworks on Deschutes National Forest land is a federal Class B misdemeanor under 36 CFR 261.52(f), punishable by up to $5,000 in fines and 6 months in federal prison. Anyone whose fireworks ignite a wildfire is also strictly liable under ORS 477.092 for the full cost of suppression and any property damage, which in Central Oregon can reach millions of dollars, and may face criminal charges for reckless burning under ORS 164.335 or arson under ORS 164.315-325.
Deschutes County, OR
Deschutes County (the unincorporated areas surrounding Bend, Redmond, Sisters, and La Pine, including the unincorporated resort community of Sunriver) does N...
Deschutes County, OR
Unincorporated Deschutes County allows one rural accessory dwelling unit (ADU) per qualifying lot under DCC 18.116.355 and DCC 19.92.160, adopted in 2023 to ...
Deschutes County, OR
Deschutes County enforces the Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC) Appendix G for residential swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs, which requires a barrie...
Deschutes County, OR
Deschutes County, Oregon regulates floodplain development under Title 18, Chapter 18.96 (Flood Plain Zone) of the Deschutes County Code. The Community Develo...
See how Deschutes County's fireworks rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.