4th Of July 2023 Fireworks Laws: What’s Legal In Virginia's Cities, Counties

VIRGINIA — If you’re planning a do-it-yourself fireworks display to celebrate the 4th of July this year, knowing Virginia’s law on consumer fireworks is the first step.

Fireworks laws have been greatly deregulated since the turn of the century. Some types of fireworks are legal everywhere, except in Massachusetts, where it’s illegal to buy or sell consumer fireworks, or bring them in from states where they are legal. Many states allow the setting off of fireworks in the days before and after major holidays.

Virginia is not among them.

In Virginia, it is illegal to use fireworks that explode, fire projectiles, travel laterally, or rise into the air. Certain permissible fireworks such as fountains and sparklers are allowed for use on private property unless banned by a locality. These include firecrackers, cherry bombs and skyrockets.

The possession, manufacture, handling, use or sale of illegal fireworks in Virginia can result in a Class 1 misdemeanor charge with a maximum penalty of a $2,500 fine and one year in jail.

Fireworks that are typically illegal are only allowed at public displays with a permit from the local fire marshal. Localities often encourage residents to enjoy professional shows and avoid private use due to the risk of fires and burns.

Even in states that permit consumer fireworks, cities and counties may adopt stricter codes and ordinances. And in extreme drought or high-wind conditions, local fire officials may prohibit them.

In the City of Alexandria, use of any fireworks is banned, except for permitted professional fireworks shows.

The City of Falls Church also bans the use and sale of all fireworks.

Other localities around Northern Virginia and Fredericksburg allow permissible fireworks only for use on private property with permission.

Every year, fireworks sales permitted by Fairfax County can sell permissible fireworks from June 1 to July 15. The county's fire code bans fireworks that explode, emit flames or sparks higher than 12 feet or have projectiles.

Similarly, Arlington County permits use of permissible fireworks on private property. The county bans fireworks that explode, emit flames or sparks higher than 12 feet or have projectiles, or leave the ground or rise (except for fountains). The county notes permissible fireworks cannot be sold to minors, and minors must be supervised by adults when using permissible fireworks.

Loudoun County provides a list of approved fireworks and approved stands to buy them at. Legal fireworks like sparklers and ground based fountains are allowed for use on private properties.

Prince William County also allows permissible fireworks like, sparklers, fountains, Pharaoh’s serpents caps for pistols and pinwheels, and spinning jennies. Banned fireworks include those that explode, emit flame or sparks to a distance over 12 feet rise, into the air, travel laterally or perform as a projectile other than sparks.

In the City of Manassas, fireworks that are projectiles, explode, and flame or spark to a distance greater than five meters are not allowed. Permissible fireworks are allowed for use on private properties.

The City of Manassas Park allows use of permissible fireworks approved by the fire marshal, such as sparklers, fountains, pharaoh's serpents, caps for pistols, pinwheels, whirligigs, and spinning jennies. Fireworks such as firecrackers, cherry bombs, Roman candles, torpedoes or skyrockets or others emitting sparks beyond a 12-foot distance or perform as a projectile are banned in the city.

The City of Fredericksburg bans use of explosive fireworks such as firecrackers, torpedoes, pyrotechnics and skyrockets but allows permissible fireworks on private property. Spotsylvania County and Stafford County also allow permissible fireworks use on private property.

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, and restricts their use to people 16 and older.

Legal fireworks are ground and handheld sparkling devices, cylindrical and cone fountains, wheel and ground spinners, illuminating torches, and certain flitter sparklers. Prohibited fireworks are firecrackers, Roman candles, chasers, wire and wooden stick sparklers, and skyrockets.

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 holidays. All types of fireworks are legal as long as they meet U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission construction and labeling 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.

Fireworks injuries have spiked in recent years, and were up 25 percent between 2006 and 2021, according to the latest available emergency room data collected by the Consumer Product Safety Commission,

Some 11,500 people were treated at emergency rooms for fireworks injuries in 2021, down from 15,600 in 2020 when pandemic restrictions kept people at home. Nine people died from fireworks injuries in 2021 — six because of fireworks misuse and one because of a mortar launch malfunction, according to the Consumer Product Safety Association. That compares to 26 fireworks-related deaths in 2020.

The report found that 74 percent of the total estimated fireworks-related injuries occurred from June 18 to July 18, 2021.

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 fireworks displays were professional shows, according to Scientific American.

Since then, states have gradually deregulated fireworks, partly to tap lost tax revenue from residents crossing state lines to buy fireworks in states with more-lenient laws, but also because of lax enforcement.