It is our hope that the following information helps to guide you in the best decision regarding the use of fireworks. We do want each of our citizens to be able to celebrate the coming holiday safely. Remember, according to the City Ordinance 97.05 (B): It shall be unlawful for any person to carry or to explode any explosive device, to include fireworks, sparklers, smoke bombs, firecrackers, roman candles, etc., in any park unless written authority is given by the Parks and Recreation Director.

FAQ about Fireworks in NC.

What fireworks are legal to use in North Carolina?

Fireworks that are legal in North Carolina include poppers, sparklers, fountains and other novelty items that don’t explode, spin, leave the ground or fly through the air.

What fireworks are illegal to use in North Carolina?

Fireworks that are illegal in North Carolina include firecrackers, ones that spin on the ground, roman candles, bottle rockets, or any aerial fireworks. Essentially, any firework that leaves the ground is not legal in North Carolina.

What are the penalties for using fireworks illegally in North Carolina?

Violators of the state’s fireworks law face a misdemeanor charge that is punishable by a fine up to $500 and or imprisonment of up to six months.

The following information includes the NC General Statute 14-414. Pyrotechnics defined; exceptions. 

For the proper construction of the provisions of this Article, “pyrotechnics,” as is herein used, shall be deemed to be and include any and all kinds of fireworks and explosives, which are used for exhibitions or amusement purposes: provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall prevent the manufacture, purchase, sale, transportation, and use of explosives or signaling flares used in the course of ordinary business or industry, or shells or cartridges used as ammunition in firearms. This Article shall not apply to the sale, use, or possession of the following:

(1)        Explosive caps designed to be fired in toy pistols, provided that the explosive mixture of the explosive caps shall not exceed twenty-five hundredths (.25) of a gram for each cap.

(2)        Snake and glow worms composed of pressed pellets of a pyrotechnic mixture that produce a large, snake-like ash when burning.

(3)        Smoke devices consisting of a tube or sphere containing a pyrotechnic mixture that produces white or colored smoke.

(4)        Trick noisemakers which produce a small report designed to surprise the user and which include:

1. A party popper, which is a small plastic or paper item containing not in excess of 16 milligrams of explosive mixture.  A string protruding from the device is pulled to ignite the device, expelling paper streamers and producing a small report.
2. A string popper, which is a small tube containing not in excess of 16 milligrams of explosive mixture with string protruding from both ends.  The strings are pulled to ignite the friction-sensitive mixture, producing a small report.
3. A snapper or drop pop, which is a small, paper-wrapped item containing no more than 16 milligrams of explosive mixture coated on small bits of sand.  When dropped, the device produces a small report.

(5)        Wire sparklers consisting of wire or stick coated with nonexplosive pyrotechnic mixture that produces a shower of sparks upon ignition.  These items must not exceed 100 grams of mixture per item.

(6)        Other sparkling devices which emit showers of sparks and sometimes a whistling or crackling effect when burning, do not detonate or explode, do not spin, are hand-held or ground-based, cannot propel themselves through the air, and contain not more than 75 grams of chemical compound per tube, or not more than a total of 200 grams if multiple tubes are used. (1947, c. 210, s. 5; 1955, c. 674, s. 1; 1993, c. 437.)

It is our hope that the following information helps to guide you in the best decision regarding the use of fireworks. We do want each of our citizens to be able to celebrate the coming holiday safely. Remember, according to the City Ordinance 97.05 (B): It shall be unlawful for any person to carry or to explode any explosive device, to include fireworks, sparklers, smoke bombs, firecrackers, roman candles, etc., in any park unless written authority is given by the Parks and Recreation Director.

FAQ about Fireworks in NC.

What fireworks are legal to use in North Carolina?

Fireworks that are legal in North Carolina include poppers, sparklers, fountains and other novelty items that don’t explode, spin, leave the ground or fly through the air.

What fireworks are illegal to use in North Carolina?

Fireworks that are illegal in North Carolina include firecrackers, ones that spin on the ground, roman candles, bottle rockets, or any aerial fireworks. Essentially, any firework that leaves the ground is not legal in North Carolina.

What are the penalties for using fireworks illegally in North Carolina?

Violators of the state’s fireworks law face a misdemeanor charge that is punishable by a fine up to $500 and or imprisonment of up to six months.

The following information includes the NC General Statute 14-414. Pyrotechnics defined; exceptions. 

For the proper construction of the provisions of this Article, “pyrotechnics,” as is herein used, shall be deemed to be and include any and all kinds of fireworks and explosives, which are used for exhibitions or amusement purposes: provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall prevent the manufacture, purchase, sale, transportation, and use of explosives or signaling flares used in the course of ordinary business or industry, or shells or cartridges used as ammunition in firearms. This Article shall not apply to the sale, use, or possession of the following:

(1)        Explosive caps designed to be fired in toy pistols, provided that the explosive mixture of the explosive caps shall not exceed twenty-five hundredths (.25) of a gram for each cap.

(2)        Snake and glow worms composed of pressed pellets of a pyrotechnic mixture that produce a large, snake-like ash when burning.

(3)        Smoke devices consisting of a tube or sphere containing a pyrotechnic mixture that produces white or colored smoke.

(4)        Trick noisemakers which produce a small report designed to surprise the user and which include:

1. A party popper, which is a small plastic or paper item containing not in excess of 16 milligrams of explosive mixture.  A string protruding from the device is pulled to ignite the device, expelling paper streamers and producing a small report.
2. A string popper, which is a small tube containing not in excess of 16 milligrams of explosive mixture with string protruding from both ends.  The strings are pulled to ignite the friction-sensitive mixture, producing a small report.
3. A snapper or drop pop, which is a small, paper-wrapped item containing no more than 16 milligrams of explosive mixture coated on small bits of sand.  When dropped, the device produces a small report.

(5)        Wire sparklers consisting of wire or stick coated with nonexplosive pyrotechnic mixture that produces a shower of sparks upon ignition.  These items must not exceed 100 grams of mixture per item.

(6)        Other sparkling devices which emit showers of sparks and sometimes a whistling or crackling effect when burning, do not detonate or explode, do not spin, are hand-held or ground-based, cannot propel themselves through the air, and contain not more than 75 grams of chemical compound per tube, or not more than a total of 200 grams if multiple tubes are used. (1947, c. 210, s. 5; 1955, c. 674, s. 1; 1993, c. 437.)