Pennsylvania: Are fireworks legal?
Pennsylvania lets anyone 18 or older buy, possess and use consumer fireworks, including aerial ones, with distance and permission rules.
State law lets adults use federal consumer-grade fireworks such as firecrackers, Roman candles and bottle rockets, but not within 150 feet of any building or vehicle, on someone else's property without permission, or while impaired. Sales happen only at permanent stores licensed by the Department of Agriculture, with a 12% fireworks tax. Towns may add rules, require permits, limit use to 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on most days, and ban use outright where the 150-foot rule can't be met. Towns may not restrict use around July 4, New Year's Eve, Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend except under that last power.
Conditions
- Must be 18 or older
- Not within 150 feet of a building or vehicle
- Property owner's express permission required
- Written notice needed within 150 to 300 feet of another person's livestock
- Bought only at Department of Agriculture licensed facilities
- Municipal hours, permits or bans may apply
What the law says
(a) Conditions.--A person who is at least 18 years of age may purchase, possess and use consumer fireworks. (b) Prohibitions.--A person may not intentionally use consumer fireworks: ... (5) Within 150 feet of a building or vehicle, whether or not the building or vehicle is owned by the user of the consumer fireworks.
Sources
- 3 Pa.C.S. Chapter 11 (Fireworks), §§ 1101, 1104, 1106 Official · palegis.us
- Pennsylvania State Police, Fireworks FAQ Official · pa.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
- Phone
- 717-787-4737
- Website
- pa.gov
How bordering states compare
- Delaware Sparklers and ground fireworks onlyDelaware allows only sparklers, non-aerial ground sparkling devices and novelties, and only on July 4, Diwali, December 31 and January 1.
- Maryland Sparklers and ground fireworks onlyMaryland bans consumer fireworks but excludes certain sparklers and nonaerial, nonexplosive ground sparkling devices, which some counties ban too.
- New Jersey Sparklers and ground fireworks onlyNew Jersey allows sparklers, ground-based sparkling devices and novelties for people 16 and older, but bans aerial and exploding fireworks.
- New York Sparklers and ground fireworks onlyNew York allows only sparklers and fountains, and only outside New York City and counties that banned them; aerial and exploding fireworks are illegal.
- Ohio Aerial fireworks allowedSince July 2022, Ohio adults may set off 1.4G consumer fireworks, including aerial ones, on set holidays unless their local government bans them.
- West Virginia Aerial fireworks allowedWest Virginia allows adults 18 and older to buy and use the full range of consumer fireworks.
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