Pitkin County effectively bans all fireworks in unincorporated areas through annual Sheriff's orders adopted by the Board of County Commissioners, citing extreme wildfire risk in the Roaring Fork Valley. Sheriff Joe DiSalvo has stated he will not issue fireworks permits in unincorporated Pitkin County. Aspen Fire Protection District prohibits all fireworks under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, and the surrounding White River National Forest bans fireworks year-round under 36 CFR 261.52(f).
Fireworks in Pitkin County are governed by Colorado Revised Statutes Title 24, Article 33.5, Part 20 (Sections 24-33.5-2001 through 24-33.5-2011), Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners ordinances, Aspen Fire Protection District restrictions, and federal regulations on adjacent White River National Forest land. CRS 24-33.5-2001(11) defines 'permissible fireworks' as small consumer devices classified UN0336/UN0337 under 49 CFR 172.101 (cylindrical and cone fountains, wheels, ground spinners, snakes, sparklers, and similar non-aerial, non-explosive items). CRS 24-33.5-2002 makes possession or discharge of any non-permissible fireworks (bottle rockets, Roman candles, mortars, firecrackers, M-80s, aerial shells) unlawful statewide. The Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners has adopted annual ordinances authorizing the Pitkin County Sheriff to prohibit the sale, use, and possession of all fireworks (including state-permissible items) in unincorporated Pitkin County, with particular emphasis on the May 31 through July 5 high fire-danger window. Sheriff Joe DiSalvo has publicly stated he will not issue fireworks permits in unincorporated Pitkin County, and Aspen Fire Protection District Chief Scott Thompson has indicated he will not sign permits for Snowmass Village or the Basalt portion of Pitkin County. Within the Aspen Fire Protection District, Stage 1 Fire Restrictions specifically prohibit possessing, discharging, or using fireworks or other pyrotechnic devices with no exceptions. Public display permits within AFPD must be applied for at least 30 days in advance through jan.legersky@aspenfire.com, must comply with Section 5608 of the 2021 International Fire Code, and require $1,000,000 per-occurrence general liability, $2,000,000 aggregate, $2,000,000 umbrella liability, and statutory workers' compensation, with AFPD named as additional insured. Most of Pitkin County is bordered by or contains White River National Forest land, where 36 CFR 261.52(f) prohibits possessing, discharging, or using any kind of firework or pyrotechnic device on National Forest System lands at all times - this is independent of any state or county ban.
Under CRS 24-33.5-2002, possession or discharge of non-permissible fireworks is a class 3 misdemeanor; the warning sign required at retailers states violators may be punished by a fine of up to $750, imprisonment for up to six months, or both. Violation of a Pitkin County Sheriff's fireworks/open-fire ban issued under the BOCC ordinance is a class 2 petty offense, plus the violator may be billed for any wildfire suppression costs caused by the discharge. Under 36 CFR 261.52(f), discharging fireworks on White River National Forest land is a Class B federal misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 for individuals (up to $10,000 for organizations) and up to six months imprisonment. Within the Aspen Fire Protection District, violating Stage 1 Fire Restrictions can additionally trigger municipal penalties and civil cost-recovery for any resulting fire response.
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