King County, WA Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)
Key Facts
- Retail sale
- Prohibited countywide
- Use/discharge
- Banned without permit
- Public display cap
- 2 days/year per site
- Cleanup deposit
- $150
- Max civil penalty
- $250 per violation
Summary
Unincorporated King County bans retail fireworks sales outright and bars any use, discharge or display of fireworks without a fire marshal permit: there's no personal-use exception.
A. The retail sale of fireworks in unincorporated King County is prohibited.
B. The use, discharge or display of fireworks in unincorporated King County is prohibited absent a permit issued by the county pursuant to RCW 70.77.260(2) and this section.
C. Any person desiring to give a public display of fireworks shall submit to the fire marshal an application for a permit to operate the public display. This is in addition to any permits required by Section 105 of the International Fire Code for pyrotechnic special effects material and use of hazardous materials. Public displays of fireworks shall not be permitted more than two days per calendar year on any site as defined in K.C.C. 21A.06.1170.
D. A complete permit application for a public display of fireworks shall be made at least twenty days in advance of the date set for the public display. Applications received after that date or incomplete applications shall be denied.
E. The fee for the permit shall be as established in K.C.C. Title 27. The permit required by this section shall be in addition to any license required by the state fire marshal under chapter 70.77 RCW. Permits for displays of fireworks for religious purposes shall not be subject to a fee, in accordance with RCW 70.77.311.
Full Breakdown
King County Code § 17.11.040 prohibits retail sale of fireworks anywhere in unincorporated King County, and prohibits use, discharge or display of any fireworks unless the fire marshal has issued a permit. In practice that permit track exists for public displays only, capped at two days per year on any one site, requiring a licensed pyrotechnic operator, a $1 million bond or insurance certificate, and a $150 cleanup deposit. Consumer fireworks for personal backyard use are not a permitted category. The fire marshal can also declare an emergency ban during drought or fire-hazard conditions under § 17.11.050.
Violations & Fines
A violation is a misdemeanor and also draws a civil penalty up to $250 per violation, with each day of continued violation a separate offense; violators pay the county's enforcement and attorney costs (K.C.C. § 17.11.060).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set off consumer fireworks at home in unincorporated King County?
Does this cover Seattle or Bellevue?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in King County
How King County compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Compare King County to another location·View the Washington fire regulations overview
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