Rock Island County, IL Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)

02 makes it unlawful for any person, firm, copartnership, or corporation to knowingly possess, offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at retail, or use or explode any fireworks in the unincorporated county, except under a County Board permit for a supervised public display. Only the County Board Chairperson can issue that permit, and only to a group of three or more adult county residents who file a written application with the County Board office at least 15 days before the display date (Sec. 03, Sec.

04). The Sheriff's Department must inspect the display site before a permit issues, to confirm the display will not be hazardous to property or endanger anyone (Sec. 03, Sec. 05(A)). Applicants must also name a qualified, experienced individual or company responsible for handling and dismantling the display, and the County Board acts on the application within 48 hours of the required inspection (Sec. 04). Before a permit is issued, the applicant must post either liability insurance (at least $100,000 per person, $300,000 per occurrence, and $100,000 for loss of support) or a bond of not less than $1,000,000, plus pay a $150 application fee and sign a hold-harmless agreement (Sec.

06). No firework may be discharged within 600 feet of any hospital, asylum, or infirmary (Sec. 08). Fireworks seized in violation of the chapter are subject to court-ordered confiscation, forfeiture, and destruction (Sec. 09). The definition of FIREWORKS in Sec. 01 excludes snake or glow-worm pellets, smoke devices, party poppers, sparklers, and low-charge toy caps, which remain legal to sell and use at all times.