Fireworks: What are the Rules?

I got a great GOOD QUESTION this week from Terry.  He and his family are big fans of everything related to July4th.  In fact, they have a tradition of having their own mini-fireworks show in their driveway every year.  He’s never thought twice about it — until his neighbor got slapped with a pretty hefty fine two weeks ago.  He had to pay about $200 for lighting off illegal fireworks.

So Terry called me up and wanted to know what was legal, and what wasn’t.  It’s a good question — considering there aren’t too many fireworks that you can legally set off in Madison.  You’re limited to sparklers, snakes, caps, snaps, and party poppers.  That’s it.

The problem is…surrounding municipalities have very different laws.  Like the local smoking bans, it’s created a patchwork of regulation that can be very hard for people to understand.

Your best bet:  check with your local municipality.  I’ve also done some research for you…below, you’ll find links area fireworks laws that I could find online (if you don’t see your community listed, I couldn’t find information online…just check with your clerk or administrator).

Have a safe and happy 4th!!

Belleville

http://www.bellevillewi.org/site_uploads/pdfs/TITLE%207-6.pdf

Town of Burke

http://www.townofburke.com/files/Fireworks%20Ordinance(1).pdf

Village of Cottage Grove

http://www.ecode360.com/?custId=CO1851&guid=9761554&j=23

Deerfield (scroll to section 4)

http://www.deerfieldwi.com/index.php/pages/op/chapter_18_police_regulation_ordinances/

DeForest (follows state laws)

http://www.vi.deforest.wi.us/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC={060568AE-E3A9-4DB1-BA48-29026FB09B08}&DE={6B8A4C1D-0AA5-4016-BE9D-AC9BA609D527}

Edgerton (section 16.34 – follows state laws)

http://cityofedgerton.com/vertical/Sites/{D353C5BF-1B01-42F6-B521-77224F262902}/uploads/{45A64F34-07AA-48C1-ABF2-E9798D16A0CB}.PDF

Fitchburg (scroll to page 18)

http://www.city.fitchburg.wi.us/city_clerk/documents/Chapter14Offensesagainstpublic.pdf

City of Madison

http://www.cityofmadison.com/fire/prevention/community_education/Safety_Information/fireworks_safety.htm

Marshall

http://www.marshall-wi.com/vertical/Sites/{498F1B85-D11A-471F-B2FD-985DC8706117}/uploads/{7DBA6BD3-2B47-4A5E-992D-D7610CDFA188}.PDF

McFarland

http://www.mcfarland.wi.us/Police/LawoftheMonth/tabid/732/Default.aspx

City of Middleton (scroll to 16.03 section 4)

http://www.ci.middleton.wi.us/City/Departments/Clerk/ordinances/middch16.pdf

Monona (page 139)

http://www.monona.wi.us/vertical/Sites/{4EF64B30-DEE6-486B-A007-DF1B9404319B}/uploads/{D0F3D655-BF00-4A4C-B84C-38764C180F28}.PDF

Mount Horeb (chapter 9 – follows state laws)

http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=12560&sid=49

Stoughton (section 50-3 – follows state laws)

http://www.municode.com/Resources/gateway.asp?pid=13831&sid=49

City of Sun Prairie (section 8.16.010)

http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=13968&sid=49

City of Verona (section 7-6-1)

http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=13721&sid=49

Villageof Waunakee (section 38-126)

http://www.municode.com/Resources/gateway.asp?pid=13069&sid=49