Maui County, HI Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Maui County Code Chapter 8.16
- Permit issuer
- Chief of Police
- Max fine
- $500 (§ 8.16.040)
- Exempt
- Sparklers, toy paper caps
- Permits
- Nontransferable, site- and time-specific
Summary
Maui County bans the sale, gift, use, firing, discharge or explosion of fireworks anywhere in the county unless the chief of police issues a permit for a supervised public display, a bona fide religious ceremony, or bird-scaring by a commercial farmer. Violators face up to $500 in fines under County Code § 8.16.040, and every permit is nontransferable and limited to the exact type, quantity, time and place approved.
A.Except as provided in this chapter, it is unlawful for any person, firm, co-partnership, or corporation to offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at retail, give away, or use, fire, discharge or explode, or cause to be fired, discharged or exploded, any fireworks; provided, that the chief of police, which term shall include his authorized representative, shall have the power to grant permits for supervised public displays of fireworks, or for the use of fireworks in connection with bona fide observance of religious ceremonies, or for the use of fireworks by commercial farmers for the purpose of frightening crop-destroying birds. ... No permit granted hereunder shall be transferable.
Full Breakdown
010 to include blank cartridges, toy pistols, toy cannons, firecrackers, torpedoes, sky rockets, Roman candles, and "other fireworks of like construction," plus any device containing an explosive or flammable compound. The definition carves out sparklers and toy paper caps meeting Interstate Commerce Commission packing standards, so those items may be sold and used at all times. 020 then bans offering for sale, selling, giving away, using, firing, discharging or exploding any fireworks county-wide unless the chief of police issues a permit. The chief may grant permits only for a supervised public display, a bona fide religious ceremony, or bird-scaring by a commercial farmer, and only after investigating whether the applicant is competent and whether the display would be hazardous, disturb the peace, or endanger anyone given the time, place, manner, type and quantity involved.
Every permit authorizes only the type, quantity, place and time specified, is nontransferable, and any seller who supplies the permitted fireworks must retain a duplicate. 030 preserves a narrow wholesale carve-out: resident wholesalers may sell fireworks at wholesale, fireworks may be sold if shipped directly out of the county, and blank cartridges remain lawful for shows, theater, athletic or sports signaling, and military or police use. 040.
Violations & Fines
Selling, giving away, possessing for sale, or discharging fireworks anywhere in Maui County without a police-chief permit violates § 8.16.020, as does exceeding a permit's approved type, quantity, time or place. Conviction under § 8.16.040 brings a fine "not exceeding five hundred dollars," and each unpermitted use or sale can be charged as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set off fireworks on my own property in Maui County?
Are sparklers legal in Maui County?
What is the penalty for illegal fireworks in Maui County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maui County
How Maui County compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Compare Maui County to another location·View the Hawaii fire regulations overview
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