Missouri: Are fireworks legal?
Missouri allows consumer fireworks, including aerial devices, with seasonal sales around July 4 and New Year's.
Missouri law defines consumer fireworks to include aerial devices, ground devices and novelties that meet federal safety rules. Seasonal stands may sell only from June 20 to July 10 and from December 20 to January 2. Fireworks may not be sold to children under 14 unless a parent or guardian is present. State law keeps the power of cities, towns, villages and charter counties to regulate or ban fireworks, and it bans cherry bombs and M-80s.
Conditions
- Seasonal retail sales only June 20 to July 10 and December 20 to January 2
- No retail sales to children under 14 unless a parent or guardian is present
- Sellers need a state fire marshal permit
What the law says
"Consumer fireworks", explosive and pyrotechnic devices designed for sale and use by the general public that conform with requirements set forth by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and designed primarily to produce visible or audible effects by combustion including, but not limited to, aerial devices, ground devices, fuses, and novelties in compliance with APA Standard 87-1A;
Sources
- RSMo § 320.106 (definitions, fireworks season) Official · revisor.mo.gov
- RSMo § 320.111 (seller permits) Official · revisor.mo.gov
- RSMo § 320.151 (sales to children) Official · revisor.mo.gov
- Missouri Division of Fire Safety: Fireworks Official · dfs.dps.mo.gov
- RSMo § 320.121 Official · revisor.mo.gov
- RSMo § 320.136 Official · revisor.mo.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Missouri Division of Fire Safety (State Fire Marshal), Inspection Unit
- Phone
- (573) 522-6207
- Website
- dfs.dps.mo.gov
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.
- Illinois Sparklers and ground fireworks onlyIllinois bans consumer fireworks except sparklers and novelties, unless an adult gets a local consumer display permit and completes approved training.
- Iowa Aerial fireworks allowedIowa allows adults 18 and older to buy and use consumer fireworks, including aerial ones, during set summer and winter periods.
- Kansas Aerial fireworks allowedKansas allows consumer fireworks, including aerial items, but bans bottle rockets statewide; cities and counties set use times and can ban fireworks.
- Kentucky Aerial fireworks allowedKentucky allows adults 18 and older to buy and use consumer fireworks, including aerial devices and firecrackers.
- Nebraska Aerial fireworks allowedNebraska allows 1.4G consumer fireworks, including aerial items, but bans wire sparklers and limits retail sales to dates around July 4 and New Year's.
- Oklahoma Aerial fireworks allowedOklahoma allows consumer fireworks, including aerial ones, and a 2026 law permits year-round sales and makes bottle rockets legal.
- Tennessee Aerial fireworks allowedTennessee allows standard consumer (Class C) fireworks, which include aerial items, to buyers 16 and older, except in its largest counties.