Montgomery County, MD Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)
Key Facts
- Manufacture
- Unlawful anywhere in the county
- Possession/use
- Banned without state permit
- Storage limit
- 8 hours without valid permit
- Permitting authority
- State Fire Marshal
- Exempt items
- DOT-compliant toy caps
Summary
Montgomery County bans manufacturing, selling, possessing, or using fireworks countywide, with narrow exceptions only under a state fire marshal display permit.
(b) Manufacture. It shall be unlawful to manufacture fireworks within Montgomery County. (c) Possession or use. Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess, store, to offer for sale, expose for sale, sell or use, burn or explode any fireworks; provided, that the possession, sale or discharge of fireworks are permitted when such activities are conducted under a permit issued by the state fire marshal.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-90: Montgomery County Code contains legislation effective through May 7, 2026 | Zoning Updated Effective: April 13, 2026 | COMCOR Regulations effective as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
County Code § 22-70 makes it unlawful to manufacture fireworks in Montgomery County at all, and unlawful to possess, store, offer for sale, sell, or discharge fireworks unless the activity is under a permit from the State Fire Marshal. Even permitted display fireworks may be stored in the county no more than 8 hours without a valid state permit and Fire Department Director approval of the storage site. Novelty items like toy paper/plastic caps meeting DOT packing rules stay legal. This is a county-code prohibition layered on top of Maryland's own statewide fireworks law (Public Safety Article Title 10, Subtitle 1), so both state permit rules and this county ban apply.
Violations & Fines
Unlawful possession, sale, or use of fireworks without a state fire marshal permit; manufacturing fireworks in the county under any circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set off consumer fireworks at home in Montgomery County?
Are sparklers legal in Montgomery County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montgomery County
How Montgomery County compares: Cities Where Fireworks Are Banned or Heavily Restricted·Compare Montgomery County to another location·View the Maryland fire regulations overview
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