What Cities are Opting Out of the New Fireworks Law in Ohio?

Posted in In the news, Leisure on June 14, 2022

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As of July 1, 2022, Ohioans can legally set off consumer-grade fireworks on private property. The law specifies that fireworks only be set off on certain holidays, about 20 days a year. The permitted days include:

New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Day
Chinese New Year
Diwali
Cinco de Mayo
Juneteenth
Memorial Day weekend
Labor Day weekend
July 3, 4, 5, and the three-day weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) surrounding July 4.

Using fireworks under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances is prohibited—anyone who violates this is guilty of a first-degree misdemeanor.
ohio fireworks law

Which Ohio cities are opting out of the fireworks law?

If you are cited for discharging fireworks in the following cities, it is a first-degree misdemeanor*

Northeast Ohio

Akron: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property. Cannot discharge commercial or consumer grade fireworks without a permit.
Amherst: The discharge of fireworks in the city will remain prohibited. Aurora: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Ashland: Ban on the discharge of consumer grade fireworks
Avon Lake: City council passed an ordinance to keep the prohibition of the discharge of fireworks in the city limits as a law.
Barberton: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Bedford: Bedford City Council passed an ordinance in May that imposes a complete ban on the use of consumer-grade fireworks.
Bedford Heights: The city has reaffirmed a ban on discharging, igniting or exploding fireworks in the city.
Berea: City Council reaffirmed the ban on discharging, igniting or exploding fireworks.
Brecksville: Ban on the discharge of fireworks, except by licensed professionals.
Brook Park: City Council passed an ordinance banning the use of consumer-grade fireworks.
Brunswick: The discharge of fireworks is restricted in city limits.
Cleveland: The receipt, storage, possession, sale, use or discharge of consumer fireworks is not allowed without a permit.
Cleveland Heights: Cleveland Heights City Council has had two readings of an ordinance amending a section of the codified ordinances prohibiting the discharge, ignition or explosion of fireworks.
Concord Twp: Concord Township trustees voted unanimously on June 15, 2022 to maintain a ban on “the discharge, igniting or exploding of fireworks” within township limits.
Eastlake: The discharging of fireworks in the city will remain illegal.
Euclid: According to the Euclid Police Department, Euclid will not have a public fireworks display for July 4, and private use of fireworks in the city is still illegal.
Fairport Harbor: The existing ban on possession and discharge of fireworks in the village limits remains in effect. A violation of the ordinance is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Highland Heights: City Council approved continuing a ban on fireworks.
Hills and Dales Village (Stark County): Bans the discharge, ignition or explosion of fireworks within the village
Kirtland City: Imposed a ban on the discharge of consumer grade fireworks on 06/22/2022 Lakewood: All fireworks are illegal in Lakewood, according to legislation.
Mayfield Heights: Residents are prohibited from setting off fireworks in the city.
Mayfield Village: Mayfield Village has banned the discharge of fireworks within its boundaries per Ordinance 2022-04, passed May 16, 2022.
Medina: The city has elected to continue a restriction on discharging fireworks within city limits.
Mentor: Fireworks possession is legal in the city, but discharge remains prohibited.
Mentor-on-the-Lake: City council opted out of House Bill 172, reaffirming the ban on discharging, igniting or exploding of fireworks.
Middleburg Heights: Consumer-grade fireworks are banned.
Minerva Village (Stark County): Bans the discharge, ignition or explosion of fireworks within the village
Newburgh Heights: Newburgh Heights Village Council voted une 7 to opt out of the legislation. Although fireworks possession is now legal in Newburgh Heights, discharge remains prohibited.
North Royalton: Personal fireworks are not permitted in the city limits of North Royalton.
Painesville City: At a special meeting on June 27, 2022, Painesville City Council voted to maintain the city’s existing ban on the sale, possession or discharge of consumer-grade fireworks.
Parma: Parma City Council voted unanimously to opt out of the Ohio Fireworks Law. It is illegal for residents to discharge fireworks in the City of Parma.
Pepper Pike: Mayor Richard Bain tells FOX 8 setting off fireworks is banned in the city, per local ordinance.
Rocky River: Rocky River City Council has re-affirmed the laws of the city stating the possession, discharge, ignition or exploding of fireworks are not permitted.
Silver Lake: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Seven Hills: City ordinance maintains it is still illegal to set off fireworks within the municipality.
Shaker Heights: Shaker Heights City Council voted to ban fireworks. Fireworks possession is legal in Shaker Heights but the discharge of consumer-grade fireworks remains prohibited.
South Euclid: The discharge, ignition or explosion of fireworks are banned. Strongsville: The city has opted out of House Bill 172, so it will still be illegal for residents to set off fireworks.
Tallmadge: Consumer fireworks are prohibited. Tallmadge City Council passed an ordinance June 9 reaffirming the city’s authority to regulate and prohibit fireworks in the community. And council decided to continue its own fireworks prohibitions.
Twinsburg: Twinsburg City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting the use of consumergrade fireworks.
Wadsworth: The city of Wadsworth has chosen to keep its fireworks prohibitions in place.
Warrensville Heights: Warrensville Heights City Council passed an ordinance that no person shall discharge, ignite or explode any fireworks within the Municipality of Warrensville Heights unless they have written permission from the fire chief.
Westlake: Westlake City Council passed legislation banning the discharging, ignition or exploding of consumer-grade fireworks anywhere in the city. It does not apply to novelties, like sparklers, noisemakers and small novelty smoke bombs.
Wickliffe: City council passed legislation that will keep the discharging of fireworks illegal in the city. Willowick: At its meeting on June 21, 2022, City Council placed revisions to the current fireworks ordinance on the agenda for 3 readings, which means the City’s ban on the discharge and sale of fireworks will remain in place until further action by Council.
Vermilion: The city does not permit the discharge of fireworks in the city limits after legislation was passed June 13.

Central Ohio

Bexley: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Columbus: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Dublin: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Gahanna: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Groveport: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Grove City: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Hilliard: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Powell: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Reynoldsburg: Allows discharges on limited dates/times. More restrictive in 2023.
Westerville: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Washington Township: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Worthington: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Upper Arlington: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property

Miami Valley

Dayton: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Fairborn: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Beavercreek: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Kettering: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Oakwood: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Germantown: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.
Springfield: Prohibits residents from discharging fireworks on their property.

Southeast Ohio

Batavia: According to village administrator Ken Geis, the Batavia Village Council adopted an ordinance several years ago that prohibits the use of fireworks. The legislation is still active and supersedes state law.
Cincinnati: Fireworks are still banned within Cincinnati city limits.
Fairfield: A previous city ordinance enacted remains in place, continuing to ban the use of fireworks in Fairfield. The Fairfield Police Department posted on Facebook that the new Ohio statute does not apply to the city. That includes the sale, possession and discharge of fireworks within city limits.
Loveland: Possession, sale and discharge of fireworks remains prohibited in Loveland, according to city code. Similar to other municipalities, only licensed exhibitors can get approval from the city to do a public fireworks show.
Milford: Milford has an ordinance on the books that prohibits people from discharging, igniting or exploding any fireworks in the town. Licensed fireworks exhibitors can apply for approval from the city to put on a show.

Northwest Ohio

Toledo: Voted to uphold fireworks ban on 06/21/2022
Haskins: Ban on the discharge of consumer-grade fireworks
Sandusky: The new fireworks ordinance allows for the discharge of fireworks during certain dates and times. City residents will be allowed to discharge fireworks on: Memorial Day, July 3-5, New Year’s Eve until 11:59 p.m. The new ordinance also incorporates certain state law safety regulations that were recently passed for commercial fireworks.

*The following list was sourced from Ohio Department of Commerce.

Safety tips for using legal fireworks

If you live in an area where it’s legal to use consumer-grade fireworks, follow these tips from the National Safety Council to keep you and your family safe:

Don’t let younger children use fireworks
Supervise older children while they use fireworks
Avoid using fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs. While dangerous to do, it’s also illegal
Make sure only to use fireworks away from any people, animals, houses, and flammable material
Don’t aim or point fireworks in the direction of objects or people
Maintain a safe distance after igniting
Keep lit fireworks out of containers
Never handle or try to re-light malfunctioning fireworks
Soak used and unused fireworks in water before throwing away
Keep a bucket of water nearby to douse malfunctioning fireworks or in case of fire
Never use illegal fireworks