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Roanoke, VA Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)

Some Restrictions

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

Key Facts

Restricted hours: 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
Penalty: Class 2 misdemeanor, public nuisance
Permitted events: Exempt under § 21-58(5)
No separate fireworks code: Regulated only as noise
Citation: City Code § 21-57(4)

Summary

Roanoke's noise ordinance bars firing explosives, fireworks or similar devices that create impulsive sound across a property line or on public property between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., under City Code § 21-57(4). Roanoke has no separate ordinance regulating fireworks sale or discharge; the noise curfew is the city's only local fireworks-specific rule.

(4)Explosives, fireworks and similar devices. Using or firing any explosives, fireworks or similar devices which create impulsive sound so as to create a noise disturbance across a real property boundary or on any public right-of-way or public property between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 94 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

m. are not reached by this section, though other nuisance or fire-safety authority could still apply. This provision sits inside Article VII, Noise Control (§§ 21-54 through 21-58), rather than in Chapter 12, Fire Prevention and Protection, so the city treats fireworks primarily as a noise problem in its general code, alongside horns, loudspeakers and yelling, rather than through a standalone fireworks-sale or discharge ordinance. cutoff that applies to unpermitted use.

Violations & Fines

Firing fireworks or similar explosive devices that create a noise disturbance across a property line or on public property between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. is a Class 2 misdemeanor and public nuisance under §§ 21-56 and 21-57(4). Fireworks tied to a city-permitted special event are exempt under § 21-58(5).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set off fireworks at night in Roanoke?

Not if the noise crosses a property line or reaches public property between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. City Code § 21-57(4) makes that a Class 2 misdemeanor and a public nuisance, regardless of whether the fireworks themselves are legal to purchase under state law.

Does Roanoke have a fireworks sale or discharge ordinance?

Not a standalone one in the general city code. The only fireworks-specific city rule found is the nighttime noise restriction in § 21-57(4); fireworks sale and general discharge are governed primarily by state law rather than a separate Roanoke ordinance.

Are city fireworks displays exempt from the noise curfew?

Yes. Section 21-58(5) exempts fireworks that are part of a parade, school activity or other special event for which the city has issued a permit, within whatever hours the permit sets, from both § 21-56 and § 21-57.

Sources & Official References

[1]Roanoke, VA Code of Ordinances § 21-57(4)

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How Roanoke compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Compare Roanoke to another location·View the Virginia fire regulations overview

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