Arizona: Are fireworks legal?
Arizona allows sparklers, fountains and other ground devices, but bans aerial and exploding fireworks such as firecrackers, bottle rockets and Roman candles.
Only 'permissible consumer fireworks' are allowed, a list of ground and handheld sparkling devices, fountains, wheels, ground spinners, torches and smoke devices. State law lets cities, towns and counties ban sale and use outside listed periods around Cinco de Mayo, July 4, New Year's and Diwali; in counties over 500,000 people, the use periods are May 4 to 6, June 24 to July 6, December 26 to January 4, and two days of Diwali. Buyers must be at least 16. Cities and counties may limit hours of use and, in some cases, use during fire restrictions.
Conditions
- Buyer must be 16 or older
- Local governments may ban sale and use outside listed periods around May 5, July 4, New Year's and Diwali
- Cities and counties may ban use from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m., with holiday exceptions
- Adult snappers allowed only in counties over 500,000 people
What the law says
Does not include anything that is designed or intended to rise into the air and explode or to detonate in the air or to fly above the ground, including firework items defined by the APA 87-1 and known as firecrackers, bottle rockets, sky rockets, missile-type rockets, helicopters, aerial spinners, torpedoes, roman candles, mine devices, shell devices and aerial shell kits or reloadable tubes.
Sources
- A.R.S. 36-1601 (definition of permissible consumer fireworks) Official · azleg.gov
- A.R.S. 36-1606 (sale and use dates, age, local regulation) Official · azleg.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Office of the State Fire Marshal
- Website
- dffm.az.gov
How bordering states compare
- California Sparklers and ground fireworks onlyCalifornia allows only state-approved 'safe and sane' fireworks; rockets, Roman candles, firecrackers and other aerial or exploding items are illegal without a permit.
- Colorado Sparklers and ground fireworks onlyColorado allows fountains, sparklers, wheels and similar 'permissible fireworks,' but bans aerial devices and firecrackers.
- Nevada UnclearNevada has no statewide list of allowed consumer fireworks, so counties and cities decide and rules vary widely.
- New Mexico Aerial fireworks allowedNew Mexico lets the public buy and use consumer fireworks, including aerial items and firecrackers, though cities and counties may ban those two groups.
- Utah Aerial fireworks allowedUtah allows aerial cakes up to 500 grams and other common consumer fireworks, but bans firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles and aerial shells.