Stratford, CT Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)

In the Town of Stratford, Connecticut, fireworks appear in two provisions of the Town Code. The first is § 152-13, in the recreational areas article of the parks and beaches chapter: no person shall carry or discharge any firearm, air rifle, gas weapon, slingshot, bow and arrow, crossbow, firecracker, fireworks or any other weapon in any recreational area, except pursuant to a valid permit issued by the governmental authority having jurisdiction. The section does not name the office that issues that permit, so the permit has to come from whichever authority holds jurisdiction over the activity.

The reach of the ban depends on § 152-6, which defines recreational areas as all Town parks, beaches, ponds, forests and other areas used for recreational purposes, including playgrounds, ballfields and docks, and also vehicle parking facilities adjacent to recreational areas. That covers the beaches at Short Beach and Lordship as well as ballfields, docks and the parking lots beside them.

The second provision is § 142-5(E)(4) in the Noise Control Ordinance. It exempts noise created by recreational activities which are permitted by law and for which a license or permit has been granted by the Town, including but not limited to parades, sporting events, concerts and fireworks displays. Both conditions have to be met, so an unlicensed display falls outside the exemption. Chapter 142 separately limits impulse noise, defined as sound of short duration with an abrupt onset, to 80 dB peak sound-pressure level during the nighttime to any residential noise zone and 100 dB peak at any time to any zone.

Two neighboring park rules also apply to anyone setting off devices: § 152-11 bars conduct that would endanger the safety of any person present, and § 152-12 bars conduct which unreasonably interferes with the ability of others to use the recreational area.