Issaquah, WA Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)

IMC 8.12.100 is a two-part ban. Subsection A: no person shall offer for wholesale or retail sale or sell any fireworks within the City. Subsection B: no person shall ignite, explode or discharge any fireworks within the City, except as authorized by a state license and a City permit granted under RCW 70.77.260(2) for a public display, or RCW 70.77.311(2) for use by an individual or group for a religious or other specified purpose on an approved date and at an approved location. IMC 8.12.010 defines fireworks broadly, covering common fireworks such as sparklers, fountains, helicopters, aerials, roman candles, mines and shells, and special fireworks such as skyrockets, missile-type rockets, firecrackers, salutes and chasers.

Permits sit behind a second layer of rules. IMC 8.12.020 requires a City permit to manufacture, import or possess any fireworks, and to transport them unless the carrier is a public carrier delivering to a permittee. Government agencies holding agricultural and wildlife fireworks under RCW 70.77.311 are excused from the permit. Applications go to the Fire Chief, the chief administrative officer of the Issaquah Fire Department, with a nonrefundable $35.00 permit fee and a certificate of liability insurance of a minimum $500,000 and $2,000,000 for bodily injury liability for each person and event, respectively, and not less than $500,000 for property damage liability for each event, naming the City as additional insured. Public display applications must be made at least 10 days in advance. IMC 8.12.060 bars any permit unless the applicant holds a valid State Fire Marshal license under Chapter 70.77 RCW.

The Fire Chief can grant, deny or condition any application (IMC 8.12.050). Every public display must be handled or supervised by a pyrotechnic operator approved by the Fire Chief (IMC 8.12.080), and a display permit is lawful for that purpose only and cannot be transferred (IMC 8.12.070). Storage is lawful only in places the Fire Chief approves after a written application at least 10 days before storage (IMC 8.12.150). Possession in violation of the chapter is prohibited (IMC 8.12.160), and IMC 8.12.220 makes reckless discharge unlawful.