Seattle, WA Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)
Key Facts
- Outdoor display permit fee
- $1,805 (Code 7801.1)
- Barge load/unload fee
- $902 (Code 7801.3)
- Proximate-audience display fee
- $957 (Code 7802)
- Application deadline
- In writing, 30 days before the display
- Late filing penalty
- 50% late fee if filed <30 days ahead
- Enforcing agency
- Seattle Fire Dept., Fire Prevention Division
Summary
Seattle doesn't regulate fireworks through a standalone ban ordinance: it permits them through the Fire Code Permit and Fee Ordinance. Anyone staging a public fireworks display needs a Seattle Fire Department permit, applied for in writing at least 30 days ahead, with fees running from $902 for a barge load/unload to $1,805 for an outdoor display under SMC 22.602.045.B.
7801.1 Fireworks use/display outdoor — $1,805, No renewal. 7801.3 Fireworks barge load/unload only — $902, No renewal. 7802 Fireworks use/display before a proximate audience — $957, No renewal. ... c Fireworks Permits. An application for a fireworks permit shall be made in writing to the fire code official at least 30 calendar days in advance of the display. At the time the permit application is submitted, the fire code official shall be consulted regarding requirements for standby fire apparatus.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 44 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
602, rather than a separate fireworks chapter. 3 for 'Fireworks barge load/unload only' at $902, and 7802 for 'Fireworks use/display before a proximate audience' at $957, none of them renewable, since each covers a single event. A fourth category, Code 107 SE, covers 'Ceremonial fireworks - Special Events' with no fee. Footnote c to the table spells out the application mechanics: 'An application for a fireworks permit shall be made in writing to the fire code official at least 30 calendar days in advance of the display,' and at the time of filing the applicant must consult with the fire code official about standby fire apparatus requirements, meaning SFD can require paid or on-duty fire crews to stand by during the display.
These permits also carry the Schedule B late-fee rule in footnote b: an application filed fewer than 30 calendar days before the event draws a late fee equal to 50% of the permit fee, and SFD may decline to process any application filed three or fewer business days before the event. 020, general IFC display and storage safety requirements apply on top of these Seattle-specific permit fees and timelines.
Violations & Fines
Discharging or displaying fireworks in Seattle without the required SFD permit, or filing fewer than three business days before the event, means the display cannot be permitted at all under the footnote b/c timing rules in SMC 22.602.045.B. Filing late but still within the window draws a 50% late fee on top of the permit cost, and unpaid invoiced fees are themselves a Fire Code violation under SMC 22.602.020.C, enforced by the Fire Chief under SMC 22.602.030.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead do I need to apply for a Seattle fireworks display permit?
What does a fireworks display permit cost in Seattle?
Can I still get a permit if I apply late?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Seattle
How Seattle compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Compare Seattle to another location·View the Washington fire regulations overview
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Fireworks in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle fireworks.