FAQ – Fireworks

Fireworks Licenses/Retail Stands

What are the requirements to have a stand?
Stands must be located within the city limits of an incorporated city or village in the state. Refer to Rules For Retail Sales Of Consumer Fireworks for building code requirements. Fireworks must be purchased from a distributor or jobber who hold a current license with the State of Nebraska. Someone age 16 or older must be present at all times while a stand is open. You should also check with your local jurisdiction to find out if they have any requirements. Some cities require anyone wanting to sell fireworks to obtain a local license in addition to the state license.

What is the difference between a distributor and a jobber?
A distributor is anyone engaged in the business of making sales of fireworks at wholesale to anyone engaged in the business of making sales of fireworks either as a jobber or as a retailer or both. A jobber is someone who is engaged in the business of making sales of fireworks at wholesale to anyone engaged in the business of making sales at retail.

What kind of fireworks can I sell at a retail stand?
Only Class C or consumer fireworks that appear on the annual permissible list (Title 157, Chapter 8) may be sold at retail. Novelty fireworks may be sold year round. Local jurisdictions may be more restrictive on the types of fireworks that may be sold. Always check with your local government to find out what fireworks are allowed.

May I sell fireworks anytime during the year?
No. State law only allows for fireworks to be sold between June 25 and July 4 each year. Local jurisdictions have the authority to be more restrictive. Always check with your local jurisdiction to find out what restrictions, if any, they may have on the dates fireworks may be sold.

How much does it cost to obtain a license?
A license for a retail stand is $25 per stand and is only valid between June 25 and July 4. A Distributor license costs $500 and is good for the calendar year. A jobber’s license is also good for a calendar year and costs $200. Retail applications received after June 10 must include a $50 late fee per stand. The fee may be paid with a credit card (Master Card or Visa) only if the application is submitted online. Applications mailed in must include a check or money order for the fee. We prefer that only one check or money order be sent for multiple applications if feasible.

Do I have to have a sales tax number to obtain a license?
No. You do not have to have a sales tax number to obtain your retail license from the State Fire Marshal’s Office. We ask for the number as a courtesy to the Nebraska Department of Revenue. However, you must obtain a sales tax number and pay sales tax on the items you sell. If you will have multiple stands, you only need one sales tax number for all the stands; not one per stand. To obtain a sales tax number or for answers to your questions regarding sales tax collection/payment, contact Pat Kreifels at the Department of Revenue (402) 471-5719 or call the Department’s Taxpayer Assistance toll free number (800) 742-7474. You may also download the form, Form 20 Application, from Revenue's website.

May I go to Missouri or another state and buy fireworks and bring them back to sell at my stand?
No. It is illegal to transport fireworks across the state line as stated in Nebraska State Statute 28-1248. Only a licensed distributor or jobber may bring fireworks into the state. You may also want to check with the US Department of Transportation regarding any restrictions or requirements they place on transportation of fireworks.

May I get a retail license anytime up to July 4^th?
No. Licenses will only be issued between January 1 and close of business (5 PM) on June 30. It is highly recommended that you submit your applications early. Licenses will not be issued the same day the application is received and may take up to 10 business days or more to process depending on the volume of applications. Please do not call to check on the status of an application for at least 2 weeks after submitting an application as this takes time away from processing.

I’m not sure where in town I will have my stand. May I submit an application with any address and change it later?
While we cannot prevent you from doing this, you should keep in mind that you are permitted only one change in location once you have received your license and that change can only be made within the same town the license was issued for. If you decide to have your stand in another town it will be necessary for you to obtain a new license. If you need to change locations a second time it will also be necessary to obtain a new license. Requests for changes must be submitted on the Fireworks License Change Form.

Where do I get the forms to obtain a license or make changes?
The forms are available in PDF format on our website or may be requested from Jodi by phone at (402) 471-2027. If you want to pay with a credit card you may complete the application online.

Do I need to keep the license number and password that shows up when I finish completing an application online?
It is recommended you print this page for your records as it has your license number on it and also serves as part of your confirmation.

Only a few distributors are listed in the online application. My distributor isn’t listed or I want to obtain fireworks from more than one distributor. How do I handle this?
The box that the distributor names appear in has a scroll bar on the right side. Scroll down to see more distributors. If you need to select multiple distributors, Windows and Linux users should hold down the Control (Ctrl) Key as they click on the distributor names. Macintosh users should hold down the Command Key as they make their selections.

I used my debit card to pay for the license(s) and was double-charged on my statement.
You were not double-charged, it only appears that way. This is because of the authorization process that occurs to insure the card is valid and there is money available to cover the pending charge. Contact your bank to clarify your statement.

The online application won’t accept my credit card.
Only Visa or Master Card may be used. Some credit card vendors set up cards so they cannot be used with online applications. If you are unable to get your application through with one credit card, please try a different credit card and see if that will go through. If you are still having difficulties, please write down any errors you are receiving or make a screen shot of the error and email to this office.