If you don't have the list of states where fireworks are legal memorized, you may find yourself in hot water this summer.
States Where Fireworks Are Legal (And Where They’re Not)
The Fourth of July is always a fun time of year to celebrate. But in order to stay out of trouble with the law while doing so, you need to know all the states where fireworks are legal. While specific rules vary state by state in terms of exactly what types of consumer fireworks are legal, it’s very easy to keep track of the broad guidelines.
What States Have Legalized Fireworks?
The American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) has a map breaking down the legality of fireworks state by state. Only one state outright bans consumer fireworks; the other 49 states and Washington, D.C., allow them in at least one fashion. Each state has different rules about the time frame in which fireworks are legal and which specific ones are prohibited; the APA also has a directory so you can easily check the regulations in your state. Ohio, for example, allows the sale of consumer fireworks year-round, while California limits the sale from June 28 to July 6.
States Where Most Firework Types Are Legal
Washington, D.C., as well as the following 47 states, allow “some or all types of consumer fireworks permitted by federal regulations,” according to the APA:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- District of Columbia
States Where Fireworks Are Legal With Limitations
Two states only allow “wire or wood stick sparklers and other novelty items”:
- Illinois
- Vermont
In What States Are Fireworks Illegal?
Massachusetts outright forbids personal fireworks displays. According to the state website, “Massachusetts law prohibits the possession, use, and sale of fireworks without a permit and certification. The law applies even if you buy them legally in another state.”
Source
- Leave Fireworks to the Professionals, Mass.gov.
- State Fireworks Control Laws, American Pyrotechnics Association, 2021.
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