Mendocino County, CA Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)

40 defines fireworks by cross-reference to state law: Health and Safety Code Section 12511 for the general term, plus 'dangerous fireworks' under Section 12505 and 'safe and sane fireworks' under Section 12529, so the ban is not limited to the aerial or explosive categories most people picture. Sec. 020 makes it unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to possess, keep, store, use, shoot, discharge, set off, ignite, manufacture, sell, give away or transport any fireworks within the County, full stop, with a single carve-out: a public fireworks display operated under a permit issued pursuant to Health and Safety Code Sections 12570 and following.

That means the popcorn-and-fountain 'safe and sane' fireworks sold seasonally in many California cities are not legal to use in unincorporated Mendocino County even though state law separately classifies them as safe and sane; the county has opted for a complete local prohibition rather than the safe-and-sane exception many jurisdictions carve out. Sec. 030 sets the penalty: any violation of the chapter is a misdemeanor. The chapter traces to Ord. No. 367, adopted in 1956, and was last amended by Ord. No. 77 but works alongside them: fireworks use during a burn ban or Red Flag warning can also trigger additional state Public Resources Code fire-prevention violations enforced by CAL FIRE.

The ban applies countywide in the unincorporated area, including the fire-prone hills and forestland around Anderson Valley, Boonville, Laytonville and Gualala; it does not govern inside Ukiah, Fort Bragg, Willits or Point Arena, which set their own fireworks rules.