Fireworks Laws in Arizona
The Fourth of July is a magical time of year, where communities come together and celebrate our great country’s birthday. Among vibrant red, white, and blue colors on shirts, banners, and glow sticks, are consumer grade fireworks. Not all fireworks are created equal though. In Arizona, only “permissible consumer fireworks” are legal to be used by folks like you and me. These are essentially your snakes and sparklers on steroids—otherwise know as cylindrical and cone fountains, illuminating torches, wheels, ground spinners, flitter sparklers, toy smoke devices, wire sparklers or dip sticks. If you’re confused by the firework lingo, the City of Phoenix offers a handy visual chart to help folks understand what is what.
The fireworks that are not legal for consumer use are skyrockets/bottle/missile-type rockets; helicopters, aerial spinners, torpedoes, roman candles, mine devices; firecrackers; reloadable shell devices; aerials and single tube devices that are shot up into the air.
Given the inherent fire dangers that come with Arizona’s extremely hot and dry climate, the government has not only restricted which kind of fireworks you can use, but also when you can sell and use them through ARS 36-1606.
Fireworks are not allowed to be used on public property, such as in parks or on sidewalks. The use of permissible consumer grade fireworks is only permitted:
- May 4th through May 6th
- June 24th through July 6th
- December 26th through January 4th
- The second and third days of Diwali of each year
However, even then, Arizona law restricts the times that you can use permissible consumer fireworks. Use is prohibited between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., except:
- Between the hours of 11:00 p.m. on December 31 of each year through 1:00 a.m. on January 1 of each year.
- Between the hours of 11:00 p.m. on July 4 of each year through 1:00 a.m. on July 5 of each year.
In addition to this, if there are state or federal fire restrictions in effect, the use of fireworks during these dates and times may be restricted or prohibited. Also, keep in mind that counties, cities and towns may have their own laws or restrictions on the use of fireworks and the penalty for the illegal use of fireworks can vary by city or town. Here are some examples of penalties as of 2023:
- Avondale: $1,000
- Buckeye: Class 3 Misdemeanor
- Chandler: $1,000
- Gilbert: $1,000
- Glendale: $1,500 on first offense, $2,000 on second offense
- Goodyear: $1,000
- Mesa: First offense $500; each subsequent offense between $1,000 and $2,500
- Peoria: $750.
- Phoenix: $1,000
- Queen Creek: $1,000
- Tempe: $1,000
- Tolleson: $250
- Scottsdale: Minimum fine of $275
- Surprise: No less than $150, no more than $1,000.
The sale of permissible consumer fireworks is only permitted to a person over the age of sixteen:
- April 25th through May 6
- May 20th through July 6th
- December 10th through January 3rd
- Two days before the first day of Diwali through the third day of Diwali each year.
Our Arizona deserts and forests are precious, so please be careful during the holiday if you plan to use fireworks. If you have questions about a legal problem that you, a friend or a family member are facing, do not hesitate to text or call Steven George Law at 480-363-0090 for a free consultation.
