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Washington County, AR Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
Code of Ordinances § 940.01
Registration required with
County Fire Marshal
Pre-season stocking limit
2 weeks before season
Post-season removal deadline
2 weeks after season
Fine
Up to $250 per day
Covers
Stands and fireworks tents alike

Summary

Fireworks stands in unincorporated Washington County must register with the County Fire Marshal, pass inspection, and follow strict stocking and removal windows under Code § 940.01. Violations carry a fine of up to $250 per day, and a separate section requires the Fire Marshal to sign off on fire-code compliance for land development plats.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Washington County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

1) All owners or operators of any fireworks stand in the unincorporated portions of the County must register with the County Fire Marshal before the time allowed by law to do business. 2) Each fireworks stand must pass an inspection by the County Fire Marshal as set out in Exhibit "A" attached hereto. 3) Fireworks must be removed from any fireworks stand no later than two weeks after the time allowed by law to do business. 4) No fireworks may be stocked or stored in any fireworks stand any sooner than two weeks prior to the time it plans to do business. 5) A fireworks stand is hereby defined as any building, counter, or other structure of temporary nature used in the sale or offering for sale fireworks and shall include fireworks tents. 6) A violation of this ordinance shall be punishable by a fine of up to $250 per day.

Full Breakdown

01, "Owners or Operators of Fireworks to Register with County Fire Marshal," requires every owner or operator of a fireworks stand in the unincorporated county to register with the County Fire Marshal before the state-law-allowed selling season begins, and each stand must pass an inspection against the standards in the ordinance's Exhibit A. Stocking is time-boxed on both ends: no fireworks may be stocked or stored in a stand more than two weeks before the legal selling season starts, and all fireworks must be removed from the stand no later than two weeks after that season ends.

A "fireworks stand" is defined broadly to include any building, counter, or other temporary structure used to sell or offer fireworks for sale, expressly including fireworks tents, so pop-up tent operations face the same registration, inspection, and timing rules as permanent stands. The ordinance was passed under an emergency clause (Ord. 2008-020, April 18, 2008) citing the life-safety risk of unregulated fireworks stands and tents, so it took effect immediately upon passage rather than after the usual delay. 00, separately requires the County Fire Marshal to approve and sign every land development plat for State Fire Code compliance, covering ingress/egress, road quality, and water resources, before the Planning Board can approve it.

Violations & Fines

A violation of § 940.01 is punishable by a fine of up to $250 per day, meaning a stand that stays out of compliance accrues daily exposure rather than a single flat penalty. The County Fire Marshal enforces registration and inspection; a stand that fails inspection or misses its removal deadline can be cited under this daily-fine structure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to register a fireworks tent, or only a permanent stand?
Both. Section 940.01(5) defines a fireworks stand to include any building, counter, or other temporary structure used to sell fireworks, expressly including fireworks tents, so tent operators must register with the County Fire Marshal and pass inspection just like permanent stands.
How early can I stock a fireworks stand before the season starts?
No sooner than two weeks before the time allowed by law to do business, per § 940.01(4). Stock delivered earlier than that window puts the stand out of compliance.
What's the penalty for an unregistered or non-compliant fireworks stand?
Up to $250 per day under § 940.01(6). Because the fine runs daily, an operator who ignores a citation accumulates additional exposure for every day the stand remains out of compliance.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Washington County

All Washington County rules

How Washington County compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Compare Washington County to another location·View the Arkansas fire regulations overview

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