Scottsdale, AZ Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)
Key Facts
- Ground-Based
- Legal in designated periods
- Aerial
- Illegal statewide
- Public Property
- Prohibited at all times
- Preserve Areas
- Prohibited (fire hazard)
Summary
Scottsdale adopted Ordinance 4157 regulating fireworks use in compliance with state law. Permissible consumer fireworks (ground-based only) are legal only during state-designated periods. Aerial fireworks remain illegal. Fireworks are prohibited on all publicly owned property and in hazardous fire areas near the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.
A. The sale and use of permissible consumer fireworks are of statewide concern. The regulation of permissible consumer fireworks pursuant to this article and their sale or use is not subject to further regulation by a governing body, except as follows: 1. In a county with a population of more than five hundred thousand persons, a city or town within its corporate limits or the county within the unincorporated areas of the county may do all of the following: (a) Regulate, consistent with the standards set forth in NFPA 1124, the sale of permissible consumer fireworks within its corporate limits. (b) Prohibit the sale of permissible consumer fireworks on days other than April 25 through May 6, May 20 through July 6 and December 10 through Jan
Full Breakdown
Scottsdale City Council adopted Ordinance 4157 (June 2014) as an emergency measure to regulate fireworks in compliance with ARS 36-1606. Only permissible consumer fireworks (ground-based devices like sparklers and fountains) are legal during designated periods: April 25-May 6, May 20-July 6, December 10-January 3, and two days before through the third day of Diwali. Aerial fireworks are illegal statewide. Sale and use are strictly prohibited outside these dates. Use is prohibited at all times on all publicly owned properties within Scottsdale. IFC Appendix O, Section O110.1 prohibits fireworks in hazardous fire areas, which includes zones near the McDowell Sonoran Preserve (30,000+ acres). The fire code official may seize fireworks in violation. Consumer fireworks retail sales require a city permit. Scottsdale's proximity to wildland-urban interface areas makes fireworks enforcement a priority.
Violations & Fines
Use outside designated periods: Class 1 misdemeanor. Use of aerial fireworks: Class 1 misdemeanor. Use in hazardous fire areas or public property: seizure and citation. Fine up to $2,500 plus 6 months jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are consumer fireworks legal in Scottsdale?
When can I set off fireworks in Scottsdale?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Scottsdale
How Scottsdale compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Compare Scottsdale to another location·View the Arizona fire regulations overview
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Fireworks in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle fireworks.