Louisiana: Are fireworks legal?
Louisiana state law allows permissible consumer fireworks, including Roman candles, rockets and aerial shells, but many parishes and cities restrict or ban them.
State law bans fireworks other than 'permissible fireworks,' a list that includes Roman candles, sky rockets and bottle rockets within size limits, mines, shells, multi-tube devices and small firecrackers. Retail sales are allowed only in set windows around July 4 and New Year's. A 2026 law (Act 857, effective August 1, 2026) adds Memorial Day and Labor Day sale windows, moves the opening time to 7 a.m., and bans shipping consumer fireworks directly to consumers. Local fireworks rules vary widely across parishes and cities.
Conditions
- Only items on the state's permissible fireworks list
- Retail sales June 16 to July 5 and December 15 to January 1, plus Memorial Day and Labor Day windows under Act 857 (2026)
- No direct-to-consumer shipping (Act 857, 2026)
- Parish and city ordinances may restrict or ban use
What the law says
In addition, any of the following enumerated devices shall also be permissible fireworks: ... "Roman candle": A tube device containing not more than twenty grams of chemical composition and not more than ten balls per tube.
Sources
- La. R.S. 51:651 (sale or use of permissible fireworks) Official · legis.la.gov
- La. R.S. 51:652 (time for selling) Official · legis.la.gov
- La. R.S. 51:650 (definitions) Official · legis.la.gov
- Act No. 857 of 2026 (HB 956), enrolled Official · legis.la.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal
- Phone
- 1-800-256-5452
- Website
- lasfm.org
How bordering states compare
- Arkansas Aerial fireworks allowedArkansas allows Class C consumer fireworks, including Roman candles, sky rockets, aerial shells and firecrackers, during two state-set seasons.
- Mississippi Aerial fireworks allowedMississippi allows Class C consumer fireworks, including small Roman candles, rockets and firecrackers, sold only during set seasons.
- Texas Aerial fireworks allowedTexas allows the public to buy consumer (1.4G) fireworks, including aerial items, from licensed retailers during set sale periods.