Where are fireworks legal in Northeast Ohio?

Justin Dennis
·5 min read
Where are fireworks legal in Northeast Ohio?

(WJW) — On the July 4 holiday weekend, one can expect many Ohioans to express their patriotism by sending a black powder-filled shell screaming into the twilight’s last gleaming.

Whether or not shooting off fireworks goes against the law of the land depends on where they live — and what day it is.

A new state law that took effect in July 2022 ended decades of prohibition on consumer-grade fireworks — at least on certain holidays — but it also allowed municipalities to set their own restrictions on private fireworks shows, or ban them entirely.

Where are fireworks illegal in Northeast Ohio?

What is Ohio’s fireworks law?

In Ohio, fireworks were illegal to use statewide for anyone, except in permitted fireworks displays — until 2022. Under Ohio’s permissive fireworks law that took effect that year, less-powerful consumer-grade fireworks — known in the U.S. as 1.4G fireworks — can be set off on private property by adults, but only on certain days:

  • New Year’s Day, Jan. 1

  • Chinese New Year’s Day, which falls between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20

  • Cinco de Mayo, May 5

  • Memorial Day, which falls on last Monday in May, as well as the preceding Saturday and Sunday

  • Juneteenth, June 19

  • Independence Day, July 4, as well as July 3 and 5, and the first Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays before and after July 4

  • Labor Day, which falls on the first Monday in September, as well as the preceding Saturday and Sunday

  • Diwali, which is celebrated between October and November

  • New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31

Ohioans still can’t use them while drinking or intoxicated. Aerial fireworks like shells, Roman candles, cakes and bottle rockets must be set off at least 150 feet away from spectators. For other non-aerial fireworks, that distance is 50 feet.

The law allows local governments to restrict those dates or ban fireworks entirely, but many have opted to allow them on certain holidays.

Fireworks Guide 2024: Where to see July 4 displays in NE Ohio

Where are fireworks legal in Northeast Ohio?

[Editor’s note: Some Northeast Ohio communities still have not responded to FOX 8 News’ request for confirmation on local fireworks ordinances. If you don’t see your community on this list, check back later.]

Alliance

  • Consumer-grade fireworks are legal to possess and discharge, but they may only be discharged on certain days:

    • July 4, from 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

    • The Sunday before Labor Day, from 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

    • New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, from 8 p.m. on Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. on Jan. 1

    • The Sunday before Memorial Day, from 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Amherst

Avon

Canton

  • The city does not have an ordinance on private fireworks possession or use, so state law prevails, making them legal to possess and to discharge on the days outlined in the statute.

Elyria

  • Consumer-grade fireworks are legal to possess and discharge, but they may only be discharged on July 4, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. and on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1.

Fairview Park

Garfield Heights

Hudson

Huron

Kent

Lorain

  • Consumer-grade fireworks are legal to possess and discharge, but they may only be discharged on some of the days outlined in the statute:

    • New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, until 1 a.m. on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1

    • Cinco de Mayo, May 5, until 11 p.m.

    • Memorial Day, which falls on last Monday in May, until 11 p.m.

    • Juneteenth, June 19, until 11 p.m.

    • Independence Day, July 4, until 11 p.m.

    • Labor Day, which falls on the first Monday in September, until 11 p.m.

Macedonia

Maple Heights

Massillon

Olmsted Falls

Sandusky

  • Consumer-grade fireworks are legal to possess and discharge, but they may only be discharged from 4 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. on the days outlined in the statute.

Streetsboro

Valley View

  • Consumer-grade fireworks are legal to possess and discharge, but they may only be discharged on three days: from 11 a.m. on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, to 1 a.m. on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1; and from 11 a.m. to midnight on Independence Day, July 4.

Wooster

  • Consumer-grade fireworks are legal to possess and discharge, but they may only be discharged on July 3, 4 and 5, as well as the Friday, Saturday and Sunday immediately before and after July 4. There are no time restrictions. However, the city’s quiet hours are from midnight to 6 a.m.

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