Fireworks – General Information

The State Fire Marshal’s office is responsible for licensing and regulating the sale of Class C fireworks and public displays of Class B fireworks in the state. Fireworks may only be sold between June 25 and July 4 each year unless a local government enacts different restrictions. Novelty fireworks may be sold year round.

Please allow at least 10 working days for processing of an application and do not contact us for status until after 10 days have expired. Phone calls checking on status cause delays in processing applications. Applications are processed in date order with no exceptions. It is the applicant’s responsibility to be aware of regulations, both at the state level and locally, and insure the application is submitted in plenty of time for processing.

Effective January 1, 2005, only the new forms will be accepted. Any application submitted on an old form will be returned. Starting January 3, 2005 it will be possible to complete the retail and display application online (see the links at the lower left of the page). Payment must be made with a credit card. The retail application provides a list of distributors to chose from. This list will be updated as distributors and jobbers license in 2006. Please be sure the distributor you will purchase your fireworks from has a 2006 license before selecting them. Applications will be rejected if the selected distributor does not have a valid license.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has changed the classification of fireworks. When we refer to Class B fireworks, the new DOT classification is 1.1 if the shells have a diameter of 10 inches or more; or 1.3 if the diameter of the shell is less than 10 inches. Class C fireworks are now referred to as consumer fireworks or 1.4 by the DOT. Novelty fireworks are exempt from hazardous labeling requirements.