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Stanislaus County, CA Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)

Heavy Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

General rule: All fireworks banned in unincorporated county
Safe & Sane window: Noon June 28 – 11:59pm July 6
County property: Safe and Sane exception never applies
Penalty escalation: $100/$200/$500 infraction, then misdemeanor
Enforcement: County Fire Warden, district fire chiefs, peace officers

Summary

Stanislaus County bans selling, possessing, discharging or transporting any fireworks in the unincorporated area, with a narrow window for state-classified Safe and Sane fireworks from noon June 28 through 11:59 p.m. July 6. Violations are infractions carrying fines up to five hundred dollars, rising to a misdemeanor on a fourth offense within a year.

City-specific rules exist: Modesto has its own fireworks rules that differ from Stanislaus County's county-level regulations. If you live in Modesto, check the city-specific page instead.

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person shall sell, offer for sale, use, discharge, display, possess, store or transport within the unincorporated area of the county, any fireworks, fireworks kits, or dangerous fireworks, by whatever name known.

View official code

Full Breakdown

110: no person shall sell, offer for sale, use, discharge, display, possess, store or transport within the unincorporated area of the county, any fireworks, fireworks kits, or dangerous fireworks, by whatever name known. 120 separately bans igniting fireworks near people with intent to injure or create panic, and bars anyone under eighteen from using fireworks without direct adult supervision. 040(B). 150 exempts state-classified agricultural, wildlife, emergency-signaling, model-rocket and other exempt fireworks used in compliance with state rules. 170 runs through the fire warden, district fire chiefs, and any peace officer, with the fire warden covering areas outside any fire district's boundary.

Violations & Fines

Section 9.84.180 makes a first violation an infraction punishable by up to one hundred dollars, a second within a year up to two hundred dollars, and a third up to five hundred dollars; a fourth within that year becomes a misdemeanor punishable by up to one thousand dollars, up to six months in jail, or both, with each day of violation a separate offense. The fire warden may also stop a display in progress and seize prohibited fireworks under Section 9.84.190.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set off fireworks on my property in unincorporated Stanislaus County?

Only within a narrow window. Section 9.84.110 bans selling, possessing, displaying or discharging any fireworks in the unincorporated county, and Section 9.84.140 permits only state-classified Safe and Sane fireworks, and only from noon on June 28th through 11:59 p.m. on July 6th each year, everything else, and every other date, stays prohibited.

What happens if I get caught with illegal fireworks more than once?

Section 9.84.180 escalates the fine each time within a year: up to one hundred dollars for a first violation, two hundred for a second, and five hundred for a third. A fourth violation within that same year becomes a misdemeanor punishable by up to a thousand-dollar fine, six months in county jail, or both.

Are Safe and Sane fireworks allowed in county parks during the Fourth of July window?

No. Section 9.84.140 states the Safe and Sane exception shall not apply to any property owned or controlled by the county of Stanislaus, including park property as prohibited in Section 18.20.040(B), so the seasonal window doesn't override the county's separate ban on fireworks in its own parks and recreation areas.

Sources & Official References

[1]Stanislaus County Code, Chapter 9.84 (eCode360)

Other rules in Stanislaus County

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All Stanislaus County rules

How Stanislaus County compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·California rules heatmap·Compare Stanislaus County to another location·View the California fire regulations overview

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Fireworks in Cities Across Stanislaus County

Modesto, CA