Pittsburgh, PA Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- Manufacture, assembly, testing of fireworks prohibited
- Citation
- Pittsburgh Code § 801.02 (IFC § 3304.1)
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine plus up to 90 days jail
- Exceptions
- Personal ammo reloading; licensed blasting/pyrotechnic work
- Enforced by
- City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire
Summary
Pittsburgh's Fire Code bans the manufacture, assembly, and testing of explosives and fireworks citywide, with narrow exceptions for personal ammunition reloading and licensed blasting or pyrotechnic special-effects work under NFPA standards.
3304.1 General. The manufacture, assembly and testing of explosives and fireworks shall be prohibited. Exceptions:
1. The hand loading of small arms ammunition prepared for personal use and not offered for resale.
2. The mixing and loading of blasting agents at blasting sites in accordance with NFPA 495 3. The use of binary explosives or plosophoric materials I blasting or pyrotechnic special effects applications in accordance with NFPA 495 or NFPA 126. Sections 3305.2 to 3305.9: Delete in its entirety. Change - Page 317
Full Breakdown
The City of Pittsburgh adopted the 2009 International Fire Code and amended IFC § 3304.1 to prohibit manufacturing, assembling, or testing explosives and fireworks anywhere in the city. The ban carries three narrow carve-outs: hand-loading small-arms ammunition for personal use, mixing blasting agents at blasting sites under NFPA 495, and using binary explosives or pyrotechnic special-effects materials under NFPA 495 or 126. Anyone who legally possesses explosives must also hold a current handling license and, per § 3308.3, a federal ATF explosives license. This targets production and testing, not consumer possession or use of fireworks, which Pennsylvania's state fireworks law separately governs.
Violations & Fines
Violating the explosives/fireworks manufacturing ban carries up to $1,000 plus costs and up to 90 days in jail per offense; each day of continued violation is a separate offense under the Fire Code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set off fireworks in Pittsburgh?
Is there any exception to Pittsburgh's fireworks manufacturing ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pittsburgh
How Pittsburgh compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Compare Pittsburgh to another location·View the Pennsylvania fire regulations overview
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Fireworks in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Allegheny County handle fireworks.