Mayoral Musings: A Reminder on Fireworks Laws Heading into Holiday Weekend

Mayor Garry Herbert•

I cannot believe we are already talking about the Fourth of July. As always, I hope everyone is planning to have a safe and relaxing Fourth of July this year. As you celebrate with friends and family, please remember the following rules apply to all consumer grade fireworks in the borough.

Conditions: A person who is at least 18 years of age and meets the requirements of this chapter may purchase, possess, and use consumer fireworks, subject to the prohibitions set forth in § 203-2B below.

Prohibitions: A person may not intentionally ignite or discharge:

Consumer fireworks on borough streets, sidewalks, parks, or other borough-owned property.
Consumer fireworks on private property without the express permission of the owner.
Consumer fireworks or sparkling devices within, or throw consumer fireworks or sparkling devices from, a motor vehicle or building.
Consumer fireworks or sparkling devices into or at a motor vehicle or building or at another person.
Consumer fireworks or sparkling devices while the person is under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance or another drug.
Consumer fireworks within 150 feet of an occupied structure.

Time restriction: No consumer fireworks shall be ignited or discharged two hours or later after sunset, as determined by the National Weather Service.

The first and last bullet points under “prohibitions” are particularly important. Every year the police receive complaints about people igniting fireworks on the sidewalks, streets, parks, and within 150 feet of occupied structures. To be clear, if you are caught violating the code, you will receive a ticket for the offence. As a reminder, there are very few places in the borough where you can set off fireworks in our community that is not within 150 feet of an occupied structure that isn’t a park. So, if you are considering buying fireworks, check your launch location before you set up.

Obviously, I don’t enjoy being a wet blanket on the celebration of a national holiday. If you intend to set off fireworks, please be safe and seriously consider where you are aiming. The last thing we need is a house to catch fire due to a miscalculated firework.

Again, please have a safe and enjoyable holiday. Hopefully, I will see you all out for our First Friday on July 7.

(Mayoral Musings is a weekly op-ed column submitted to North Penn Now, courtesy of Lansdale Borough Mayor Garry Herbert. The views expressed are his own and not representative of North Penn Now or Lansdale Borough.)

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