Fireworks In The Yard
Health & Saf. Code 12677 — dangerous fireworks need a permit, and local rules decide the rest
In California, it is unlawful for any person to possess dangerous fireworks without holding a valid permit.
What counts as dangerous. Firecrackers, skyrockets and rockets, roman candles, chasers that dart along the ground, sparklers more than 10 inches long or one-fourth of one inch in diameter, trick and surprise items, torpedoes, fireworks kits, anything containing certain listed chemicals, and other fireworks the State Fire Marshal finds unsafe for anyone not specially trained.
Safe and sane fireworks. Fireworks approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and examined, tested and found by the State Fire Marshal to meet the state's standards for design, construction, performance and labeling.
Local law decides where. A fire protection district may adopt an ordinance prohibiting or regulating the sale, use or discharge of fireworks; where the county or city has its own such ordinance, the county or city ordinance prevails in that area.
- No one may sell, give or deliver dangerous fireworks to anyone under 18 years of age.
- A retailer may not sell or transfer safe and sane fireworks to anyone under 16 years of age.
- A retailer may not sell a rocket or similar explosive device to anyone under 18, apart from model rocket products.
The penalties. A violation is generally a misdemeanor with a fine of $1,000 to $2,000, up to one year in county jail, or both. Possessing dangerous fireworks is graded by weight: under 25 pounds is that misdemeanor, and from 25 pounds up the fines climb to $10,000, $20,000 and $100,000, with possible jail.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionFireworks bought legally can be set off anywhere in the state | What the law actually doesLocal ordinances may prohibit or regulate the sale, use or discharge of fireworks |
| The assumptionA few firecrackers are harmless to keep | What the law actually doesFirecrackers are dangerous fireworks, and possessing them without a permit is unlawful |
Licensed public displays, wildfire area rules and seizure and disposal costs are not all on this page. What a particular situation carries is a question for a licensed California attorney.
Sources for this section (6)
- Health & Saf. Code 12677 — Possessing dangerous fireworks without a permit
- Health & Saf. Code 12505 — Dangerous fireworks defined
- Health & Saf. Code 12529 — Safe and sane fireworks defined
- Health & Saf. Code 12689 — Fireworks and minors
- Health & Saf. Code 12700 — Fireworks law penalties
- Health & Saf. Code 12541.1 — Local ordinances on the sale, use or discharge of fireworks
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed California attorney.