El Monte, CA Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)

El Monte Municipal Code Section 15.34.040(A) makes it unlawful to possess, fire, discharge, set off, or use fireworks of any kind in the city at any time, and holds parents and guardians liable if they allow a minor in their care to violate the ban. Any violation of subsection A is charged as a misdemeanor under Section 1.24.010. The only carve-out is for California State Fire Marshal-approved "safe and sane" fireworks under Section 15.34.040(B), which residents at least 18 years old (or supervised minors under a guardian at least 21) may possess, use, or discharge only on July 3 between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. and July 4 between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.

Sales are even more restricted: Section 15.34.040(C) permits sale of safe and sane fireworks only to permit holders operating July 1 through July 4, between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., and never to anyone under 18. A seller must first obtain a permit under Chapter 5.12 (Business Permits Generally) plus the underlying Chapter 8.16 fireworks permit, and the applicant must hold a current retailer's license from the State Fire Marshal (Section 15.34.040(D)-(E)). The Permit Committee has 30 days to act on a completed application and may attach conditions; the Fire Chief, a designee, or a City Code Enforcement Officer can suspend a stand for violating any condition, state law, or local ordinance (Section 15.34.040(E), (S)).

Stands themselves face detailed safety rules under subsections F through R: red "No Smoking" signage at least four inches tall, two exits, two 2.5-gallon water extinguishers or two 2A10BC extinguishers, a 25-foot setback from buildings and side property lines (15 feet from a street line), a 25-foot vehicle-parking buffer, metal or quarter-inch hardware-cloth siding, and removal of unsold stock by July 31 each year. A stand cannot go up more than 10 days before the sale window opens or stay up more than seven days after it closes; late removal costs the permittee $10 per day, deducted from the deposit required under Section 8.16.030(B).

Chapter 8.16 separately requires a city permit to sell fireworks at all (Section 8.16.010), restricts net sale proceeds to charitable purposes within the city (Section 8.16.020), and lets the city set permit fees by council resolution (Section 8.16.024). Where Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations conflicts with a non-discretionary state mandate, state rules control; otherwise the local ordinance governs (Section 15.34.040(T)).