Fireworks In The Yard
Pub. Safety § 10-104 — a permit to discharge fireworks, and what is not fireworks
In Maryland, a person must have a permit before discharging fireworks, or possessing fireworks with the intent to discharge them or allow them to be discharged. The application goes to the State Fire Marshal at least 10 days before the date, with a permit fee of $50 and a bond.
What does not count as fireworks. The definition leaves out sparklers that do not contain chlorates or perchlorates, ground-based sparkling devices that are nonaerial and nonexplosive and labeled under federal consumer product rules, paper wrapped snappers, ash-producing snakes, and toy pistol caps within the limits the section sets.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionBackyard fireworks just need care | What the law actually doesDischarging fireworks takes a permit from the State Fire Marshal |
| The assumptionSparklers are fireworks too | What the law actually doesSparklers without chlorates or perchlorates are not fireworks under the definition |
Local ordinances, homeowners' association rules, fire restrictions, and the licensing of sellers and display operators run alongside these sections and are not all on this page. Whether a particular device or a particular night is allowed where someone lives is a question for the local fire authority or a licensed Maryland attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- Md. Code, Pub. Safety § 10-104 — Permit to discharge fireworks
- Md. Code, Pub. Safety § 10-101 — Fireworks: definitions
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maryland attorney.