Highlands County, FL Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)
Key Facts
- Default rule
- Fireworks/explosives banned in every county park
- Only exception
- Permit issued directly by Board of County Commissioners
- Related bans
- Open flame (§7-4(g)), flares (§7-4(i))
- Maximum penalty
- $500 fine and/or 60 days jail, § 7-4(m)
Summary
Section 7-4(c) of the Highlands County Code bans discharging fireworks or explosives in any county park unless the Board of County Commissioners has issued a specific permit. Without that permit, setting off fireworks in a park is punishable by up to a $500.00 fine, 60 days in jail, or both under section 7-4(m).
(c)Fireworks and explosives. Unless specifically allowed by a permit issued by the board of county commissioners, no person shall discharge fireworks or explosives within any county park.
Full Breakdown
" That means the default in every Highlands County park, from boat ramps to ballfields to lakefront parks like those on Lake Istokpoga and Lake Jackson, is a full prohibition, and the only way around it is a permit the Board of County Commissioners itself issues for a specific event, not a permit from park staff or the county administrator. 001 (2011), the state's general firearms and weapons definitions chapter, so the ban reaches more than consumer fireworks. Section 7-4 pairs the fireworks ban with a separate restriction on open flame in subsection (g), which bars igniting a fire against vegetation or park structures except in a designated fireplace or grill, and a ban on discharging a flare except in an emergency in subsection (i), showing the county treats all uncontrolled ignition sources in parks the same way.
00, imprisonment in the county jail for up to 60 days, or both, and law enforcement or park personnel can eject the person from the park in addition to any citation.
Violations & Fines
Discharging fireworks or explosives in a Highlands County park without a permit specifically issued by the Board of County Commissioners violates section 7-4(c). A conviction is punishable under section 7-4(m) by a fine of up to $500.00, up to 60 days in the county jail, or both, and the violator can also be removed from the park by law enforcement or park staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set off fireworks at a Highlands County park?
Who issues a fireworks permit for a county park event?
What happens if someone sets off fireworks in a park without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Highlands County
How Highlands County compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Highlands County to another location·View the Florida fire regulations overview
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