Edmonds, WA Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- ECC Chapter 5.27
- General rule
- All fireworks banned citywide
- Public display permit fee
- $500.00, plus inspection cost
- Application deadline
- 14 days before the event
- First offense
- $500.00 nontraffic infraction
- Repeat offense
- Misdemeanor: up to $1,000, 90 days jail
- Enforcement
- Police chief and fire marshal
Summary
Edmonds bans the sale, possession, use, transfer, discharge or ignition of any fireworks within city limits, including so-called safe and sane consumer fireworks. Only a state-licensed public display authorized by a $500 city permit from the fire marshal, or an approved religious-organization display, is exempt. First offenses are $500 infractions; repeat violations become misdemeanors.
A. It is unlawful for any person to sell, possess, use, transfer, discharge, ignite or explode any fireworks within the city; provided, that this prohibition shall not apply to the following activities, when authorized by a state license and city permit: 1. Duly authorized public displays, as provided in RCW 70.77.260; and 2. Duly authorized use by religious organizations or private organizations or persons for religious or other specific purposes on an approved date and in an approved location, as provided in RCW 70.77.311(2). ... ... A. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (B) of this section, violations of this chapter shall be punished as a nontraffic infraction, punishable by a fine of $500.00 ... ... B. Any person violating or failing to comply with the provisions of this chapter which does not also constitute a violation of state law for the second time within five years, and any subsequent violations within five years, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 and/or jail not to exceed 90 days.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4444, passed August 3, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Edmonds City Code Chapter 5.27 makes it a criminal offense to sell, possess, use, transfer, discharge, ignite or explode any fireworks anywhere in the city, per ECC 5.27.020(A). The ban covers both illegal fireworks and the "common" consumer fireworks that are otherwise legal under Washington law; there is no Fourth of July or seasonal carve-out for individual use. The only exemptions are a duly authorized public display under RCW 70.77.260, or an approved religious or private-organization display for a specific purpose on an approved date and location under RCW 70.77.311(2), and both require a state license plus a city permit.
To hold a public display, an organizer must apply to the Edmonds fire marshal at least 14 days before the event (ECC 5.27.080) and pay a nonrefundable $500.00 public display permit fee (ECC 5.27.060), plus the actual cost of any site inspection running over one hour. The display must be planned, organized and discharged by a state-licensed pyrotechnician, and the application must list the pyrotechnician, the exact discharge site, date and time, the number, type and class of fireworks, and the insurance bond behind the display (ECC 5.27.120(A), (B)). A site drawing showing structures, fences, streets and other hazards within a 500-foot radius must go to the fire marshal (ECC 5.27.120(C)); combustible debris must be cleared 300 feet from the discharge site; and at least two 2A-rated water extinguishers plus a fire blanket must be on hand (ECC 5.27.120(E), (G)). The fire marshal can revoke a permit on the spot for noncompliance or unsafe weather such as low humidity or wind (ECC 5.27.120(H)). Permits are nontransferable and void if used by anyone other than the named permittee (ECC 5.27.070).
The police chief and fire marshal enforce the chapter and may revoke a permit for noncompliance (ECC 5.27.180). A first violation is a nontraffic infraction with a total financial obligation of $500.00; a second violation within five years, and any later one, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail (ECC 5.27.210).
Violations & Fines
A first violation is a nontraffic infraction carrying a $500.00 total fine, including state public safety and education assessments. A second violation within five years, or any later one, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and up to 90 days in jail. The police chief and fire marshal enforce Chapter 5.27 and may revoke a display permit on the spot for noncompliance or unsafe conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set off fireworks at my Edmonds home for the Fourth of July?
How do I get a permit for a fireworks display in Edmonds?
What happens if I violate Edmonds' fireworks ban?
Who enforces the fireworks ordinance in Edmonds?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Edmonds
How Edmonds compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Compare Edmonds to another location·View the Washington fire regulations overview
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Fireworks in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Snohomish County handle fireworks.