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Where Are Fireworks Legal? — Learn Which States You Can Buy And Use Them In With Fourth Of July Approaching

By Danny Cox
Published on: 07:37 PST, Jun 26, 2016

The Fourth of July is quickly approaching for those in the United States, and it’s going to be a day of celebration, remembrance, cookouts, and fireworks. For those who are hoping to head out to a fireworks show spectacular, you can likely find one in your hometown. For those who want to purchase and shoot off their own fireworks, that may be a bit more difficult as they aren’t legal in too many places.

No matter what town, city, or state you may be in, there is likely going to be a Fourth of July celebration of some kind. All you have to do is look around and see where to go and when and you will see an amazing display in the sky.

Some people are going to want to light their own fireworks, though, and that’s not always the best of ideas. If you don’t see firework stands set up around your city, then there is likely a very good chance that they aren’t legal where you live.

Then again, there are some locations that the government will allow the sale of fireworks, but it won’t allow you to set them off. That simply means you could buy them where you live, but you’d have to drive somewhere else to shoot them, and that could even mean heading to the next state, where they could be legal.

Many law enforcement agencies are already issuing warnings, and the Fourth of July is still over a week away.

According to American Pyro, there are only three states in America which ban all consumer fireworks of any kind. If you live there, don’t try setting them off at all, or you could be in for a bad time if caught.

  • Delaware
  • Massachusetts
  • New Jersey

There are four states which allow only wire or wood stick sparklers and other novelty items. That pretty much means that you shouldn’t try to purchase and use any extravagant or big explosive fireworks.

  • Iowa
  • Ohio
  • Illinois
  • Vermont

fireworks where legal buy use fourth of july 2016 states
[Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia do allow some or all types of consumer fireworks for purchase and use. That doesn’t mean all cities and counties in those states allow the purchase and/or ignition of fireworks so make sure that you know the laws before assuming that you can do whatever you please.

Depending on the size of your fireworks display, you may need to file for and be approved for a permit.

US Fireworks does sell consumer fireworks to most states around the country, and they give specific information as to what is legal. For something to be called a “consumer firework,” it must have been tested by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and meet various requirements across many categories.

State laws do change quite often, and that is something that everyone needs to catch up on. Just because fireworks were legal in your area last year or even for New Year’s, they may not be at this point, so check before you buy.

If you’re looking to buy some fireworks and set them off on the 4th of July, you’re going to want to check out the laws first. You may be able to buy them in one town or even in another nearby state, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to shoot them off when you get home. Fourth of July celebrations can be just as fun without ending up in jail due to using some sparklers or lighting a bottle rocket.

[Photo by Ulrich Baumgarten/Getty Images]

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