Providence, RI Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)
Key Facts
- Vendor permit fee
- $50, valid 1 year
- User permit fee
- $25, valid 24 hours
- Permit issuer
- Board of licenses
- Fine range
- $100-$500 per violation
- Enforcement
- Providence Police Department
Summary
Providence bans selling, using, or setting off fireworks anywhere in the city unless you first get a vendor or user permit from the board of licenses.
No person shall sell, offer for sale, use or explode, or display or cause to be exploded for exhibition or amusement, fireworks without first obtaining a permit pursuant to section 9-82.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 7).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 9-81 makes it unlawful to sell, offer for sale, use, explode, or display fireworks for exhibition or amusement without a permit issued under § 9-82. Vendors need a Providence Fireworks Vendor Permit ($50/year, one per sale location); anyone who wants to set off fireworks needs a Providence Fireworks User Permit ($25, valid only 24 hours), both from the office of the board of licenses. The Providence Police Department enforces the ordinance under § 9-84.
Violations & Fines
Selling without a permit: civil fine of $100-$500. Using or exploding fireworks without a permit: separate civil fine of $100-$500 under § 9-83.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set off consumer fireworks in my backyard in Providence?
Do fireworks retailers need a special city permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Providence
How Providence compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Compare Providence to another location·View the Rhode Island fire regulations overview
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Fireworks in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle fireworks.