By Paula Scott
Want to know when you or your neighbors can discharge fireworks? Ohio law regarding fireworks changed on July 1, 2022. It is now legal to discharge 1.4G consumer fireworks on specified dates. A white paper from the state fire marshal is summarized below. The full document is HERE.
Discharge is permitted on specific days and at specific times if not banned or further restricted by a local political subdivision. Ohioans may discharge 1.4G consumer fireworks only from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m. (with specified variations) on the following dates:
- July 3, 4, and 5, and the Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays immediately preceding and following July 4
- Labor Day weekend (1st Monday in September and the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding that Monday)
- Diwali (November 12, 2023)
- New Year’s Eve (4 p.m.-11:59 p.m.)
- New Year’s Day (also 12 a.m.-1 a.m.)
- Chinese New Year (February 10, 2024)
- Cinco de Mayo (May 5)
- Memorial Day weekend (last Monday in May and the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding that Monday)
- Juneteenth (June 19)
DISCHARGE LOCATIONS
Consumers can discharge 1.4G consumer fireworks on their own property or on another person’s property with that person’s permission (unless restricted by local government).
CONSUMER GRADE FIREWORKS
Individuals can only discharge 1.4G consumer grade fireworks that were purchased in Ohio from an Ohio licensed fireworks sales location. Purchase or discharge of 1.3G display grade fireworks is not allowed.
RULES
- No person can use fireworks while in possession or control of, or under the influence of, any intoxicating liquor, beer, or controlled substance. Violations are a first-degree misdemeanor.
- No person under the age of 18 is permitted to handle or discharge fireworks.
- Persons under the age of 18 cannot be within 150 feet of the discharge point of aerial fireworks.
- Aerial devices cannot be discharged within 150 feet of spectators (this includes aerial shells, roman candles, cakes, and bottle rockets)
- Non-aerial devices cannot be discharged within 50 feet of spectators (this includes fountains, firecrackers, and ground effect devices).
- Fireworks cannot be aimed at or discharged towards any person or object (such as buildings).
- Fireworks cannot be discharged on public property or private school property.
- Fireworks cannot be discharged if drought conditions exist or in an area where a red flag warning is in place or a weather hazard exists.
- Fireworks cannot be discharged within 150 feet of property housing livestock unless 5 days advance written notice is provided to the owner of the property where the livestock is housed.
