Salem, OR Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- SRC 58.305, SRC 58.315
- Civil penalty
- up to $500 per violation per day
- Possession exemption
- under $50 retail value, no penalty
- Display/sale permit
- required, City fee + state fee
- Insurance/bond
- $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate
Summary
Salem adopts Oregon's fireworks statutes (ORS 480.111-480.165) into its Fire Prevention Code under SRC 58.305, substituting the Fire Code Official for the State Fire Marshal, and requires a City permit before any fireworks sale or display under SRC 58.315. Violations draw a civil penalty up to $500 per day, though possessors of under $50 in retail-value fireworks are exempt.
(i)ORS 480.165. (1) amended to read: In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any person who violates any provision of ORS 480.111 (Definitions for ORS 480.111 to 480.165) to 480.165 (Civil penalty for fireworks law violations), or any rule adopted by the Fire Code Official pursuant thereto, is subject to a civil penalty imposed by the City in an amount not to exceed $500 per violation. However, an individual member of the general public who possesses fireworks of a retail value less than $50 is not subject to a civil penalty. Each day a violation continues shall be considered a separate offense.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
SRC 58.305 incorporates a specific list of Oregon Revised Statutes fireworks provisions (ORS 480.111, 480.120(1), 480.127, 480.130, 480.140(1), 480.150, 480.158, 480.160 and 480.165) directly into Salem's Fire Prevention Code, generally swapping in 'Fire Code Official' wherever the state statutes say 'State Fire Marshal.' SRC 58.305(i) locally amends the penalty in ORS 480.165: any person who violates ORS 480.111 through 480.165, or a Fire Code Official rule adopted under them, is subject to a City civil penalty of up to $500 per violation, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense; a member of the public possessing fireworks with a retail value under $50 is exempt from that penalty.
SRC 58.315 layers Salem's own permitting requirement on top of the adopted state law: before anyone can hold a fireworks display or sale permit required by ORS 480.130 as adopted here, the applicant must pay a City application fee set by Council resolution, in addition to the state permit fee, and must post a bond or public liability insurance policy in the amounts SRC 58.185 requires, at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate. The Fire Code Official may adopt State Fire Marshal display-permit rules as needed and can revoke a fireworks sale or display permit at any time it is not complying with applicable law or presents an undue hazard to life or property; permit fees are non-refundable even if the permit is revoked (SRC 58.315(c)-(d)).
Violations & Fines
Violating the adopted state fireworks statutes or a Fire Code Official rule under them draws a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation, with each day of continued violation treated as a separate offense (SRC 58.305(i)); the exception is public possession of fireworks worth less than $50 at retail, which carries no penalty. Selling or displaying fireworks without the City permit required by SRC 58.315, or violating that permit's terms, can also get the permit revoked without a refund.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to sell or display fireworks in Salem?
What's the penalty for violating Salem's fireworks rules?
Can Salem revoke a fireworks display permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salem
How Salem compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Compare Salem to another location·View the Oregon fire regulations overview
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