All fireworks are illegal in the City of Whittier - including State Fire Marshal 'safe and sane' fireworks. Whittier Municipal Code Chapter 15.28 prohibits possessing, storing, selling, or using any fireworks citywide. The City Council raised the administrative fine to $5,000 per occurrence in 2022, citing the high fire severity zone near the Puente Hills.
Whittier Municipal Code Chapter 15.28 (Fireworks) bans consumer fireworks completely - unlike a minority of Los Angeles County cities that permit 'safe and sane' devices. Section 15.28.010 makes it 'unlawful for any responsible person to possess, to store, to manufacture, fabricate or assemble, to offer for sale, to expose for sale, sale or resale, or to use or to explode any fireworks within the city,' with fireworks defined by reference to the California Health & Safety Code. Section 15.28.015 creates a 'responsible person' standard and a rebuttable presumption that the record owner and lessee of a residential parcel have notice of any violation occurring on the property - a 2020 urgency-ordinance measure holding property owners accountable. Section 15.28.020 carves out a narrow exception for permitted public displays (such as July 4 and New Year's Eve) approved by the fire chief and conducted under state law, and Section 15.28.030 authorizes the fire chief to seize fireworks. The City notes its Municipal Code has provided for administrative citations since 2007. Statewide, 'dangerous' fireworks are independently illegal under California Health & Safety Code Section 12500 et seq. Whittier contracts fire protection to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Possessing or using any fireworks in Whittier draws an administrative citation. On June 14, 2022, the City Council voted to increase the administrative fine from $1,000 to $5,000 per occurrence, citing fireworks use during the Independence Day holiday and the City's location in a high fire severity zone near the Puente Hills Preserve. Under Section 15.28.015, the property owner or lessee can be held responsible for violations occurring on their parcel. Possession or use of 'dangerous' fireworks is separately a misdemeanor under California Health & Safety Code Section 12677.
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