Ohio: Are fireworks legal?
Since July 2022, Ohio adults may set off 1.4G consumer fireworks, including aerial ones, on set holidays unless their local government bans them.
Ohio allows 1.4G fireworks bought from licensed Ohio sellers to be set off on private property with the owner's permission on about a dozen holiday dates, including around July 4, New Year's, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Juneteenth, Cinco de Mayo, Diwali and Chinese New Year. The fire marshal's flyer gives hours of 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on most of these days. Sales to anyone under 18 are banned, and Fire Code rules bar people under 18 from handling them. Counties, townships and cities may restrict the dates and times or ban use entirely, and many do.
Conditions
- Must be 18 or older to buy
- Use only on state-listed holidays, mostly 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Private property with the owner's permission
- Only fireworks bought from licensed Ohio sellers
- Local governments may restrict or ban use
What the law says
Any person authorized under this section to possess 1.4G fireworks in this state may discharge, ignite, or explode those fireworks on private property, with authorization from the property owner on the following days each year: ... A county, with respect to the unincorporated territory of the county, a township, with respect to the unincorporated territory of the township, or a municipal corporation may do either of the following: ... Ban the discharge, ignition, or explosion of fireworks purchased pursuant to this section.
Sources
- Ohio Rev. Code § 3743.45 Official · codes.ohio.gov
- Ohio Rev. Code § 3743.65 Official · codes.ohio.gov
- Ohio Rev. Code § 3743.01 (definitions) Official · codes.ohio.gov
- Ohio State Fire Marshal, Ohio's Fireworks Law for Consumers (2024 flyer) Official · dam.assets.ohio.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of State Fire Marshal
- Website
- com.ohio.gov
How bordering states compare
- Indiana Aerial fireworks allowedIndiana allows adults to buy and use consumer fireworks, including aerial devices and firecrackers, on their own or permitted property.
- Kentucky Aerial fireworks allowedKentucky allows adults 18 and older to buy and use consumer fireworks, including aerial devices and firecrackers.
- Michigan Aerial fireworks allowedMichigan allows consumer fireworks, including aerial ones, but local governments may limit when they can be set off.
- Pennsylvania Aerial fireworks allowedPennsylvania lets anyone 18 or older buy, possess and use consumer fireworks, including aerial ones, with distance and permission rules.
- West Virginia Aerial fireworks allowedWest Virginia allows adults 18 and older to buy and use the full range of consumer fireworks.