While House Bill 542, which went into effect in October 2017, expanded Pennsylvanians` access to consumer-grade fireworks, fireworks can still only be used by licensed professionals in the community where the exhibit will take place. Municipalities with local ordinances can prosecute summary offences for those who illegally set off fireworks, ranging from a fine of $100 to $300. ASHA recommends using hearing protection such as earplugs, keeping a safe distance of at least 500 feet from fireworks, and leaving the venue if there is a ringing in your ear while watching fireworks. The bill would also require people to notify pet owners at least three days before setting off fireworks near a pet store. Violators would be fined $500 for a first offence and $1,000 for a second offence. The content of this resource is provided for informational purposes only and is not considered legal advice. The laws of all levels of government change frequently and the information found here may be or become obsolete. It is recommended that you consult your lawyer for the most up-to-date information on current laws and legal issues. In addition to state law, many state municipalities have also enacted ordinances that mirror state law, but include additional regulations. For example, in the Township of Doylestown, the use of fireworks is limited between 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
In the Township of Falls, large fireworks are only permitted with the permission of the Fire Commissioner. Consumer fireworks may not be fired from or in the direction of a structure or vehicle. They may also not be placed within 150 feet of an occupied building. It is also illegal to light them on private or public property without the owner`s permission or under the influence. Pennsylvania legalized consumer fireworks in 2017, but lawmakers have proposed banning their use after 10 p.m. Exceptions would be made for the fourth of July and New Year`s Eve. The bill would limit the lighting of fireworks for consumers between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.
But there are four exceptions – July 2, 3 and 4 and December 31. On those days, fireworks could be set off until 1 a.m. the next morning. In Pennsylvania, before 2017, only small fireworks that didn`t shoot high in the air could be sold in the Commonwealth. However, Pennsylvanians are now allowed to buy Class C “consumer fireworks,” which include fan favorites like firecrackers, Roman candles, and bottle rockets. These “consumer fireworks” are defined as all fireworks containing 50 milligrams or less of explosive material. Anything above this threshold is still illegal for the average consumer and requires special licenses or permits. The bill passed by a vote of 44 to 6 and is now going to the House of Representatives for approval. It was created by Sen. Frank Farry, a Bucks County Republican, in part in response to the large number of noise and safety complaints lawmakers have received since the sale of fireworks was legalized in 2017, the Pennsylvania Capital Star reported. Amateur pyrotechnicians are advised to follow Pennsylvania law, where they can set off fireworks or face penalties and fines. Class C fireworks include fireworks, Roman candles, bottle rockets and similar fireworks containing no more than 50 milligrams of explosive materials, the Pennsylvania State Police website explains.
If you want to catch fireworks on New Year`s Eve but don`t want to set them off yourself, here`s a list of New Year`s events in the Midstate. Store fireworks in a cool, dry place, away from children and pets. Drive into the mountains: Poconos, Lehigh Valley spots to see 4 fireworks shows. While temporary pop-up tents, which always seem strategically placed outside liquor stores and Lowe`s, are usually a gateway to a haunting tale of an easy-trigger-happy elderly person wearing a bandana, these short-term structures are legally only capable of selling floor and hand sparks. The largest fireworks must be sold by permanent fireworks dealers. Most ordinances include rules that set a distance of 150 feet from occupied structures, which almost prevents the use of fireworks. With the restriction, many backyards and other spaces become taboo. Others prohibit the use of fireworks within 200 feet of a structure, property line, vehicle or roadway unless prior written permission is obtained from all landowners in the 200-foot zone.
Never give fireworks to young children and never set or point fireworks at people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials. Always follow the instructions on the package. Leave that to the Bucks pros: the bright lights of the fireworks are back. Where to celebrate July 4 in Bucks County Based on the passage of Bill 43 in 2017, fireworks, Roman candles, bottle rockets and similar aerial fireworks containing a maximum of 50 milligrams of explosive materials are now legal in the Commonwealth. But placing them in confined spaces or drinking them while they are on is not. If you plan to use fireworks on the 4th, there are several ways to have fun while staying safe. Western PA Fun: July Calendar Brings Fun, Food and Fireworks According to Beaver Valley, Pennsylvania`s current fireworks law allows people 18 and older to buy fireworks such as firecrackers, Roman candles and bottle rockets containing 50 milligrams of explosive material or less. Larger fireworks are still only available to professionals and cannot be lit without municipal permission. The proposal also provides for certain tax revenues from fireworks to be diverted to create EMS grants, and includes penalties for mis-selling and illegal use.
Curtis continued, “There are very few places in the Mechanicsburg neighborhood where legal fireworks can be set off. We try to tell residents, yes, they are legal, but no, you are not abandoning them legally. Since 2017, Pennsylvanians can legally purchase and use “consumer” or “Class C” fireworks containing up to 50 milligrams of explosives. Fireworks, Roman candles, and bottle rockets can all be purchased in the state. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association is also reminding those near fireworks this holiday of the potential dangers of hearing loss. ASHA encourages the public to incorporate hearing protection into their celebrations, stating that a single loud explosion or an explosion that lasts less than a second can cause permanent hearing. Pennsylvania law and local ordinances govern who and where residents can set off fireworks. And in fact, many of these rules make it difficult to find places to launch a display. Pennsylvania residents are not allowed to set off fireworks after 10 p.m.
— except on New Year`s Eve and days near the fourth of July — according to legislation passed Thursday by the state Senate. “Nowhere in the City of York are you allowed to set off fireworks, it`s illegal,” he said. “Unfortunately, our Harrisburg legislature, the governor and the courts have made it nearly impossible for the city to enforce this. City police need to see in person how someone sets off fireworks. You have to try to catch them, catch them visually, and then catch them physically to be able to enforce this law. It`s stupid. The Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate on Thursday passed a bill proposing reform of the state`s existing fireworks law, including restrictions on when they can be triggered. “The changes to Pennsylvania`s fireworks laws were part of efforts to increase state revenue, and when House Bill 542 was passed, it was estimated that state tax revenue would increase by nearly $10 million annually,” city officials said in a statement. “None of this new revenue will come to cities like Lancaster, but we all have to deal with the noise and fire and injury risks of using these fireworks at night.” Rick Breski sells the full list of recently legalized fireworks from his tent on Eisenhower Boulevard in Swatara Township. Since Pennsylvania legalized the sale of a wider range of so-called consumer fireworks — such as bottle rockets, Roman candles and mortars — residents have more choices for New Year`s and July 4 celebrations. 26 December 2017.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com HARHAR safety precautions are necessary as fireworks-related injuries rose from 9,992 in 2019 to 15,646 in 2020 as the pandemic increased celebrations at home, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association. Central PA lights up the sky: Where to see the July 4 fireworks in York County and beyond Bill 43 has made cities like Lancaster “vulnerable to the dangers of fireworks to consumers,” according to city officials. The Lancaster Police Board and city officials want the law restored to pre-2017 levels and recently announced that the city has a zero-tolerance policy. Legal fireworks are only available at physical stores licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. A map of these locations is available online. However, if you decide to set up fireworks on 4. July to buy and use, please do it safely.