Ohio’s New Fireworks Law

Beginning July 1, 2022, Ohioans can legally discharge 1.4G consumer fireworks in Ohio.  However, discharge is only permitted on specific days and only at specific times – as set forth in amendments to Ohio Revised Code (R.C.) § 3743.45 (which become effective July 1, 2022) and new Ohio Fire Code (OFC) § 1301:7-7-56(Z)(5626) (which becomes effective July 3, 2022).

Pursuant to this State Law and Ohio Fire Code Regulation Ohioans can discharge 1.4G consumer fireworks only from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m. (unless otherwise specified) on the following dates: 

-July 3, 4, and 5, and the Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays immediately preceding and following July 4th [For 2022 July 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 & 10];

-Labor Day weekend (1st Monday in September and the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding that Monday) [For 2022 Sept. 3, 4 & 5];

-Diwali [For 2022 October 24];

-New Year’s Eve (4 p.m.-11:59 p.m.) [Dec. 31];

-New Year’s Day (12 a.m.-1 a.m. & 4 p.m.-11 p.m.) [Jan. 1];

-Chinese New Year [For 2023 Jan. 22];

-Cinco de Mayo [May 5];

-Memorial Day weekend (last Monday in May and the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding that Monday) [For 2023 May 27, 28 &29]; and,

-Juneteenth (June 19)  

Select restrictions on fireworks usage:

-Consumers can only discharge 1.4G consumer fireworks on their own property or on another person’s property with the owner’s permission;

-No person can use fireworks while in possession or control of, or under the influence of, any intoxicating liquor, beer, or controlled substance. A person who violates this is guilty of a first-degree misdemeanor;

-No person under the age of 18 is permitted to handle or discharge fireworks;

-Persons under the age of 18 cannot be within 150 feet of the discharge point of aerial fireworks;

-Aerial devices cannot be discharged within 150 feet of spectators (this includes aerial shells, roman candles, cakes, and bottle rockets);

-Aerial devices cannot be discharged within 150 feet of the nearest point of any structure or building;

-Non-aerial devices cannot be discharged within 50 feet of spectators (this includes fountains, firecrackers, and ground effect devices);

-Note: These separation distances – for both aerial and non-aerial devices – are increased for certain types of occupancies such as hospitals, schools, healthcare and residential facilities, apartment and multi-tenant buildings, military installations, and railroads;

-No person can store in excess of 125 pounds (net weight pyrotechnic composition) of fireworks unless they have additional safety measures and safeguards in place for such storage;

-Fireworks cannot be discharged indoors;

-Fireworks cannot be aimed at or discharged towards any person or object (such as buildings);

-Fireworks cannot be discharged on public property or private school property, including any street, highway, alley or public way; and,

-Fireworks cannot be discharged if drought conditions exist or in an area where a red flag warning is in place or a weather hazard exists.

For information on additional restrictions please go to: https://com.ohio.gov/wps/wcm/connect/gov/a5c4037d-62c5-4a2e-83c7-4ad06ff56419/ofc-excerpt-1301-7-7-56z-discharge-rules-f.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CONVERT_TO=url&CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE.Z18_M1HGGIK0N0JO00QO9DDDDM3000-a5c4037d-62c5-4a2e-83c7-4ad06ff56419-o5P0V3i

The Township encourages any resident to contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to report violations of the New Fireworks Law and Regulations as it relates to any unlawful discharge of fireworks not in conformance with the date, time and manner restrictions listed above.