Montebello, CA Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)

The city license collector accepts fireworks stand permit applications only from qualifying organizations between May 1st and 15th each year under Montebello Municipal Code Section 8.20.030. A qualifying organization must be a nonprofit veteran, patriotic, welfare, civic betterment, religious or charitable group with a permanent meeting place in the city for at least one continuous year. Not more than twenty stand permits are issued citywide at any one time, and no organization may hold more than one. Applicants must carry one million dollars in public liability, premises, contractual and products liability insurance naming the City of Montebello as an additional insured, and anyone cited for a fireworks violation in the prior five years is ineligible to apply.

Stands are capped at two hundred fifty square feet, must be built of metal or low-flammability synthetic material approved by the fire marshal, need at least two fire extinguishers, and must sit at least twenty-five feet from any building and one hundred feet from a gasoline station, with stands spaced at least five hundred feet apart. Selling is limited to adult members of the permittee organization, and no one under eighteen may buy or sell. Sales run from ten a.m. to ten p.m. on July 1st through 3rd and ten a.m. to eight p.m. on July 4th, with the fire chief able to authorize an earlier start at ten a.m. on June 28th.

Stands and leftover stock must clear the city by noon on July 5th, with the stand itself removed by noon on July 11th. The city manager decides permit approvals and denials, and a rejected applicant can appeal in writing to the city council within ten days.