Summer Fireworks Laws by State & City (2026)

Most Restrictive

1. 1
   Columbia, MOsparklers only

   Columbia, Missouri bans discharging, igniting or setting off nearly all consumer fireworks within city limits in Boone County: only sparklers are legal without a city manager permit for a supervised display.

2. 2
   Lowell, MA$500 per violation (section 155-17)

   All consumer fireworks are illegal to sell, possess, or use in Lowell. Massachusetts is one of the few states with a total ban under M.G.L. c. 148, section 39, and Lowell City Code section 155-17 separately prohibits fireworks with a $500 fine per violation.

3. 3
   Essex County, NJSparklers, novelties, age 16+

   Consumer fireworks are banned statewide across Essex County under New Jersey law. A 2017 amendment legalized only hand-held or ground-based sparkling devices and novelties for anyone 16 or older. Aerial and explosive fireworks remain illegal everywhere.

4. 4
   King County, WA$250 per violation

   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.

5. 5
   Brentwood, CASnap caps, party poppers, highway flares

   Brentwood bans using, possessing, discharging, selling, storing or making fireworks anywhere in the city under Section 8.48.020, with no exception for so-called safe-and-sane fireworks. The only carve-outs in Section 8.48.030 are snap caps and party poppers, red highway flares, State Fire Marshal-approved industrial or agricultural items under permit, and a city-permitted public display.

6. 6
   Glendale, CA

   Glendale bans the manufacture, use, possession, sale, discharge or storage of any fireworks citywide under Municipal Code Section 8.16.010, with only narrow exceptions such as fire-chief-permitted public displays. Illegal fireworks are subject to seizure and destruction by the fire marshal.

7. 7
   Wauwatosa, WIUp to $1,000

   Wauwatosa bans all fireworks without a permit under Ordinance 14.32.030, including sparklers, caps, and snakes. Permits are only issued by the Common Council for organized festivals or celebrations (Ord. 14.32.040). Fine up to $1,000.

8. 8
   Compton, CAMisdemeanor plus seizure, § 22-2.18

   Compton bans dangerous fireworks outright and confines 'safe and sane' fireworks to a narrow window: sale only June 30 to July 4 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and discharge only from noon to 10 p.m. on July 4th, under Municipal Code § 22-2.2, with violations charged as misdemeanors.

9. 9
   Denver, CO$500 minimum

   Denver treats fireworks as an explosive device: igniting, discharging, or detonating them anywhere in the city is unlawful unless you have valid authorization from the city, under the municipal weapons code.

10. 10
    Waukesha County, WI$10 to $600 forfeiture

    Waukesha County bans fireworks throughout its unincorporated towns by adopting Wis. Stat. § 167.10(1) as a county offense, with a local forfeiture of $25 to $100 per violation. Inside county parks, fireworks are banned outright under a separate park-specific rule, with an exception only for exhibitions conducted under the director's direction or permission.