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Are consumer fireworks legal in my state?
Last reviewed 2026-10-15.
It depends on your state, and often on your city or county too. Federal law sets safety, labeling and shipping rules for consumer (1.4G) fireworks, and each state decides what residents can buy and use. Cities and counties can add stricter rules, so check your local rules as well.
State data last reviewed 3 September 2026 on our state fireworks laws page, and shown here as of 2026-10-15. Laws change, so confirm with your state or local fire authority before you buy or light anything.
- Legal: consumer fireworks can generally be bought, under the state's rules on sellers, ages and dates.
- Limited: some consumer fireworks are allowed, with restrictions on what, where or when. Open the full details for your state.
- Banned: consumer fireworks are not allowed for the public, with exceptions such as licensed displays.
- Local option: the state leaves the decision, or most of it, to cities and counties, or no statewide rule was found.
| State or territory | Status | Minimum age | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Legal | 16, or younger with an adult present | Class C consumer fireworks, including aerial items, are legal to buy statewide from licensed sellers. Full details |
| Alaska | Limited | Not specified | Only fireworks the state labels 'consumer fireworks' can be sold, and cities may restrict or ban them further. Full details |
| Arizona | Legal | 16 | Aerial and other permissible consumer fireworks are legal to buy and use during set seasonal windows. Full details |
| Arkansas | Legal | Not specified | Specific aerial and ground Class C fireworks are legal from licensed retailers; other types are banned. Full details |
| California | Limited | 16 for safe and sane items; dangerous fireworks cannot legally be sold to anyone | Only 'safe and sane' non-aerial fireworks are legal, and only where the local city or county allows sales. Full details |
| Colorado | Limited | 16 | Only non-aerial 'permissible fireworks' are legal statewide; aerial or exploding types need a local opt-in. Full details |
| Connecticut | Limited | 16 | Only sparklers and fountains are legal to buy and use; all other consumer fireworks are banned. Full details |
| Delaware | Banned | 18 | Fireworks are banned for consumer use; only permitted public displays and farm use are allowed. Full details |
| Dist. of Columbia | Limited | Not specified | Only low-hazard novelty fireworks on an approved list can be sold; aerial and exploding types are banned. Full details |
| Florida | Legal | Not specified | Sparklers are always legal; other fireworks are legal on Jan 1, Jul 4 and Dec 31, plus a common workaround. Full details |
| Georgia | Legal | 18 | Consumer fireworks, including Roman candles, sell year round from licensed retailers to adults 18 and up. Full details |
| Guam | Local option | Not specified | No statewide statute was found; check with local Guam authorities before buying or shooting fireworks. Full details |
| Hawaii | Limited | 18 for a Honolulu firecracker permit | Only permitted items like firecrackers can be bought; big counties like Honolulu allow far less in practice. Full details |
| Idaho | Limited | Not specified | Only nonaerial 'safe and sane' fireworks can be sold and used, mainly around Jul 4 and New Year's. Full details |
| Illinois | Limited | Not specified | Only low-hazard novelty items are freely sold; most other consumer fireworks need a local display permit. Full details |
| Indiana | Legal | 18 | Consumer fireworks are broadly legal for adults from retailers holding a state certificate. Full details |
| Iowa | Legal | 18 | Licensed retailers can sell consumer fireworks, including aerial items, to adults. Full details |
| Kansas | Legal | Not specified for buyers; license holders and operators must be at least 21. | Consumer fireworks are legal from seasonal stands or licensed permanent retailers. Full details |
| Kentucky | Legal | 18 | Consumer fireworks are legal from seasonal retailers or year-round ancillary sellers. Full details |
| Louisiana | Legal | 15 | Licensed retailers may sell 1.4G consumer fireworks during set seasonal windows. Full details |
| Maine | Legal | 21 | CPSC-certified consumer fireworks are legal for adults 21 and older from licensed sellers. Full details |
| Maryland | Limited | 16 | Only sparklers and similar novelty items are legal for the public; other fireworks need a state permit. Full details |
| Massachusetts | Banned | Not specified | Consumer fireworks, including sparklers, are banned; only licensed public displays are allowed. Full details |
| Michigan | Legal | 18 | Consumer fireworks are legal statewide with a retailer certificate; cities can limit discharge hours. Full details |
| Minnesota | Limited | 18 | Only novelty items like sparklers and noisemakers are legal; most other fireworks are banned statewide. Full details |
| Mississippi | Legal | 12 | Class C common fireworks are legal in set sale windows; cities and counties can ban or add rules. Full details |
| Missouri | Legal | Not specified | Consumer fireworks are legal statewide via licensed retailers; cities and counties can ban them locally. Full details |
| Montana | Legal | Not specified for buyers; 18 required to sell | Consumer fireworks are legal during set sale windows; cities and towns can add rules or bans. Full details |
| Nebraska | Legal | 16 to possess; 12-15 allowed with adult 19+ supervision; no separate purchase age stated | Consumer fireworks are legal in cities and villages during set sale windows. Full details |
| Nevada | Local option | Not specified; set locally | The state leaves fireworks rules to counties and cities, so legality varies a lot by location. Full details |
| New Hampshire | Legal | 21, or 18 to 21 for active-duty military or state guard | Consumer fireworks are legal statewide with a license, but towns can vote to ban them locally. Full details |
| New Jersey | Limited | 16 | Only sparkling devices and novelties can be bought freely; other fireworks need a state permit. Full details |
| New Mexico | Legal | Not specified for buyers; sales clerks must be at least 16 | Most consumer fireworks, including aerial types, are legal to buy from licensed retailers. Full details |
| New York | Limited | 18 | Only sparkling devices are legal, and only in places that have not banned them locally. Full details |
| North Carolina | Limited | 16 | Only novelty items like sparklers are legal to buy; aerial and explosive fireworks are banned for consumers. Full details |
| North Dakota | Limited | 12 | Only fountains, wheels, spinners and similar items are legal; firecrackers and shells are not approved. Full details |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Banned | Not specified | Fireworks are banned for the public except approved displays or government-supervised discharge. Full details |
| Ohio | Legal | 18 to use or discharge fireworks; not specified for purchase | 1.4G fireworks are legal to buy year round from licensed sellers, but discharge is limited to set holidays. Full details |
| Oklahoma | Legal | Not specified for general buyers; sellers may not sell to a child under 12 without an adult present | Consumer fireworks are legal to buy during set seasonal windows from licensed retailers. Full details |
| Oregon | Limited | 16 | Only non-aerial items like spinners and sparklers go to consumers; aerial fireworks need a display permit. Full details |
| Pennsylvania | Legal | 18 | Consumer-grade aerial fireworks are sold to adults year round at licensed permanent stores statewide. Full details |
| Puerto Rico | Limited | 18 | Aerial and explosive fireworks are banned; only small non-aerial novelty items may be sold and used. Full details |
| Rhode Island | Limited | 16 | Only a short list of non-aerial novelty items can be sold at retail; aerial fireworks need a state permit. Full details |
| South Carolina | Legal | 16 | Standard consumer fireworks, including aerial types, are sold year round by licensed retailers statewide. Full details |
| South Dakota | Legal | 18 | Consumer-grade fireworks are sold and used within two set seasonal windows each year. Full details |
| Tennessee | Legal | 16 | Class C common fireworks are sold to adults and older teens year round at permitted in-state dealers. Full details |
| Texas | Legal | 16 | Standard 1.4G consumer fireworks are sold statewide during set calendar windows by permitted retailers. Full details |
| Utah | Legal | 16, to handle or set off aerial fireworks | Consumer aerial fireworks are legal from licensed sellers during set summer and winter windows. Full details |
| Vermont | Limited | 18 | Only compliant hand-held sparklers can be bought. Real fireworks are for permitted displays only. Full details |
| Virginia | Limited | Not specified | Only non-explosive, non-aerial novelty items are allowed. No firecrackers or aerial fireworks. Full details |
| Virgin Islands | Banned | Not specified | Retail fireworks sales to the public are banned. Only licensed public displays and toy caps are allowed. Full details |
| Washington | Legal | 16 | Approved consumer fireworks are legal from licensed sellers during short summer and New Year windows. Full details |
| West Virginia | Legal | 18 | Consumer fireworks are legal year round from certified retailers, with no statewide date limits. Full details |
| Wisconsin | Limited | Not specified | Sparklers, fountains, and novelties are freely sold. Louder or aerial fireworks need a local permit. Full details |
| Wyoming | Local option | Not specified | State law bans fireworks by default. Cities and counties decide whether to allow local sale and use. Full details |
Each state's full details, including sale windows, when you may shoot, and a link to the law itself, are on the state fireworks laws page. Safety basics are on the safety guide.
How this page is written.Written in our own words. Nothing here is legal advice, and nothing here is an endorsement of any seller. Prices, terms and laws change, so check the current source before you buy or light anything.