Walworth County, WI Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Walworth County Code § 38-3
- Adopts
- Wis. Stats. ch. 167.10(1)
- Max forfeiture
- $1,000.00 plus costs
- Jail default
- Up to 30 days
- Appearance bond
- $200.00 cash
- Local exemption
- Cities/villages/towns with own ordinance
Summary
In the towns under Walworth County zoning and elsewhere in unincorporated Walworth County, selling fireworks or possessing them for sale is banned outright unless the buyer holds a state-recognized user's permit. Using or possessing fireworks without a local user's permit is a forfeiture offense enforced by the Sheriff's Office.
(a)Adopted. All of the statutory provisions of Wis. Stats. chs. ... 167.10(1) (introduction), 167.10(1)(e), (f), (i), (k), (l), (m) and (n) (definitions), are hereby adopted as ordinances of the county as if fully set forth in this article except the penalty provisions set forth in such sections shall be as set forth in this section.(b)Sale of fireworks. No person may sell or possess with intent to sell fireworks, except: ... (c)Possession and use of fireworks.(1)No person may possess or use fireworks without a user's permit from the mayor of the city, president of the village or chairperson of the town or county in which the possession or use is to occur or from an official or employee of that municipality designated by the mayor, president or chairperson. ... (e)Penalty. Any person violating any provision of this section shall, upon conviction thereof, forfeit not more than $1,000.00, and in default of payment thereof shall be imprisoned in the county jail until the forfeiture and costs are paid but not to exceed 30 days.
Full Breakdown
Walworth County Code § 38-3 adopts the state fireworks statute, Wis. ch. 10(1), as a county ordinance, substituting the county's own penalty. Selling or possessing fireworks with intent to sell is prohibited except to a permit holder under subsection (c)(3), to a city, village or town, or for narrow exceptions such as explosives handled under Department of Commerce rules, hazardous-substance disposal under DNR rules, or manufacturing and educational uses. No one may possess or use fireworks in unincorporated Walworth County without a user's permit issued by the county chairperson (or a designated official), and permits can go only to a public authority, fair association, amusement park, park board, civic organization, group of residents or nonresidents, or an agricultural producer protecting crops from predatory birds or animals; permits cannot be issued to minors.
A copy of any permit must reach the municipal fire or law enforcement official at least two days before the authorized use date, and the county must be notified at least two days in advance of any county-authorized use. The ordinance does not apply, and cannot be enforced, inside any city, village or town that has adopted its own fireworks ordinance, so it governs only the unincorporated towns that have not done so separately. Enforcement runs through the County Sheriff's Office under the ch. 14 citation procedure adopted under Wis.
0113, and the county can still refer conduct for prosecution as a state crime or forfeiture instead of, or in addition to, an ordinance citation.
Violations & Fines
A violation carries a forfeiture of not more than $1,000.00 plus costs of prosecution; if the forfeiture and costs go unpaid, the violator can be jailed in the county jail for up to 30 days. Anyone charged can be released before trial by posting a $200.00 cash bond with the county or the arresting officer to guarantee a court appearance, and that bond is forfeited if the person fails to show up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set off fireworks on my own land in unincorporated Walworth County?
What happens if I'm cited for illegal fireworks?
Does this ordinance apply inside Lake Geneva or Elkhorn?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Walworth County
How Walworth County compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Compare Walworth County to another location·View the Wisconsin fire regulations overview
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