Fireworks Laws In Palm Desert, Coachella Valley: What's Legal On July 4th In 2025

PALM DESERT, CA — In Palm Desert, Coachella Valley and across Riverside County, just like almost everywhere else in the United States, police and fire departments want you to know that, aside from permitted displays, fireworks of all kinds are considered illegal in 2025.

The danger of igniting dry brush is a real threat in a state where fire season lasts 365 days a year, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department officials. Additionally, there are stiff penalties for those caught igniting fireworks illegally in Riverside County; a first-time conviction for using fireworks illegally carries a fine of $1,500.

In 2024, firefighters across the Inland Empire battled blazes on multiple fronts as the 4th of July fireworks revelry lasted into the night. Hot, dry weather contributed to fires that ignited quickly amid dry brush, low humidity, and near-record heat.

Before you start procuring pyrotechnics, remember: ALL fireworks, including sparklers, are illegal in Riverside County. "If you light it, we’ll write it!" the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department says. And they promise to be out in force for six days before and after the 4th of July in 2025.

The permissive atmosphere around fireworks regulation isn’t universal, though. The use of fireworks in neighborhoods can become contentious, and in states with permissive fireworks laws, some cities and counties have passed local laws banning their use.

In extreme drought or high-wind conditions, local fire officials may prohibit the use of fireworks. And three states — Hawaii, Nevada and Wyoming — leave it to each county to decide where and what categories of fireworks are legal.

According to Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, all fireworks, including sparklers, are illegal.

“All fireworks are illegal because they cause serious injuries and very often, cause fires,” he said. “Riverside County has very diverse terrain. The vegetation is very dry, and fireworks can easily start a brush fire.”

Individuals who cause fires by using illegal fireworks will be held responsible for all suppression costs. “These costs can run into the millions of dollars. Read more at the State Fire Marshal website,” he said.

See below to find out more about reporting illegal fireworks in your neighborhood.

The strictest fireworks laws are in California, according to a map and list of state fireworks laws curated by Reader’s Digest. The law allows a limited window for fireworks use, from noon on June 28 through noon July 6; restricts their use to people 16 and older; and also limits the kinds of fireworks people can buy.

Indiana has some of the most lenient laws. Anyone 18 or older can purchase and use fireworks whenever they want, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on non-holidays and later on special occasions — midnight on the 4th of July, two hours after sunset during 4th of July weekend and 1 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. All types of fireworks are legal as long as they meet U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission construction and labeling regulations.

Three states — Hawaii, Nevada and Wyoming — leave it to counties to set consumer fireworks regulations.

States with stricter fireworks laws have cited data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission that shows thousands of people are injured in fireworks-related accidents every year, with multiple deaths reported as well. Some 10,200 people were injured and 11 died in fireworks accidents in 2022, according to the latest available data from the agency

Also according to that report:

• Nearly three-fourths (73 percent) of 2022 injuries occurred in the weeks before and after the July 4 holiday.
• About 1,300 people were injured by fireworks and approximately 600 by sparklers.
• About 38 percent of people who were injured sustained burns, most often (29 percent) to the hands and fingers, but also the head, face and ears (19 percent), eyes (16 percent) and trunk or other part of the body (12 percent).

If you’re getting fireworks to celebrate Independence Day, follow these safety tips:

• Don’t allow young children to play with fireworks, including sparklers.
• Keep a bucket of water or garden hose nearby so you can douse a fire quickly.
• Light fireworks one at a time, then quickly step back.
• Never attempt to re-light or pick up a firework that did not ignite correctly.
• Don’t use fireworks if impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Fireworks have always been part of Independence Day celebrations. After the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, that Independence Day “ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shews, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.”

The first Independence Day fireworks display occurred on July 4, 1777. They came in only one color — orange — back then, according to the Smithsonian Institution. Today, they light up the sky with red, white and blue, the color of the U.S. flag, but also other colors.

At the turn of the century, about a third of firework displays were professional shows, according to Scientific American.

The gradual deregulation of fireworks occurred partly to recoup lost tax revenue from residents crossing state lines to buy fireworks in states with more lenient laws, and also due to lax enforcement.

For more information on how to report fireworks in Riverside County and what to do if you come across explosive devices, please read our Explosives and Fireworks (PDF)

An online Sheriff’s Office fireworks report form is available 6 days prior to and 3 days after July 4, according to the department.

Last year, in places like Beaumont, CA, the city opted for a different approach to a citywide fireworks show, featuring a drone show instead.

Hundreds gathered to witness the colorful drones changing shapes and creating visuals filled with patriotic and civic pride.

Which one is better?

Related:

IE 4th Of July Fireworks Spark Numerous Fires In 2024