Middletown, OH Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)

12 adopts Ohio's fireworks framework as a city ordinance enforced by the Middletown Division of Police and Division of Fire. 4G consumer fireworks by federal DOT classification and separately regulates manufacturing, wholesaling, purchasing, transporting, and public exhibitions, each requiring the buyer or exhibitor to hold the applicable state license. Division (f) is the rule most residents run into: no person may possess, sell, or offer to sell fireworks in the city, and no person may discharge, ignite, or explode fireworks here, except a licensed manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer, shipping permit holder, or a licensed exhibitor running a permitted public display.

4G consumer fireworks set them off on private property with the property owner's consent, but only on ten listed dates each year, including January 1st, the last Monday in May with the preceding weekend, July 3rd through 5th and the surrounding weekend, and December 31st; the city may further restrict or ban even those dates. Wire sparklers, novelties, and trick noisemakers such as snakes, snappers, and party poppers are exempt from the ban entirely under division (h). Selling fireworks to anyone under 18, or letting a minor touch fireworks on licensed premises without consent, is also prohibited.

Any fireworks manufactured, sold, possessed, transported, or used in violation of the section are forfeited to the city, and the Fire Marshal's office disposes of seized fireworks under state forfeiture procedures. A first violation of the possession or discharge ban is a first-degree misdemeanor; a repeat violation of the manufacturer or wholesaler recordkeeping provisions escalates to a state felony.