Fireworks In The Yard
Wis. Stat. 167.10 — a user's permit, and sparklers and fountains are not fireworks
In Wisconsin, fireworks are anything made for exploding, emitting sparks or combustion that has no other common use, and possessing or using them takes a user's permit from the mayor, village president or town chairperson, or someone they designate.
Not fireworks. The definition leaves out, among other things, the following.
- A sparkler on a wire or wood stick not exceeding 36 inches in length.
- Cylindrical and cone fountains classified as Division 1.4 explosives.
- Smoke devices, novelty devices that spin or move on the ground, toy snakes without mercury, and caps used in a protective device.
- Confetti or streamer devices and fuseless noisemakers with less than one-quarter grain of explosive mixture.
Up to $1,000. Violating the sale or use rules, or a local ordinance under the section, carries a forfeiture of not more than $1,000, and a parent or legal guardian who consents to a minor's use of fireworks forfeits not more than $1,000.
Sales. Fireworks may be sold to a permit holder, to a municipality, or to a person who is not a resident of the state, and a nonresident may possess them if not using them in the state.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionAnything sold at a stand can be set off at home | What the law actually doesFireworks take a user's permit; sparklers, fountains and novelties are outside the definition |
| The assumptionA parent who lets a child set them off is not responsible | What the law actually doesA parent or guardian who consents to a minor's use forfeits not more than $1,000 |
Local ordinances, display permits and liability for injuries are not all on this page. What a particular situation carries is a question for a licensed Wisconsin attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Wis. Stat. 167.10 — Regulation of fireworks
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Wisconsin attorney.