Seasonal & Holidays

4th Of July Fireworks Laws: What’s Legal In Georgia

See how Georgia compares to other states on what types of fireworks are allowed ahead of the 4th of July.

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Fireworks laws vary across the states, with Georgia allowing fireworks any day of the week from 10 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., but local governments can restrict this. On July 3 and 4, Georgians can use fireworks until 11:59 p.m. regardless of local ordinances.
Fireworks laws vary across the states, with Georgia allowing fireworks any day of the week from 10 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., but local governments can restrict this. On July 3 and 4, Georgians can use fireworks until 11:59 p.m. regardless of local ordinances. (Lorraine Swanson/Patch)

GEORGIA — As plans for 4th of July celebrations ramp up in Georgia, those looking to shoot off fireworks can brush up on the laws regarding the popular holiday activity.

Georgia allows fireworks any day of the week between 10 a.m. and 11:59 p.m., but local governments can restrict these times through noise ordinances.

However, Independence Day celebrations on July 3 and July 4 are exempt from local ordinance restrictions, Georgia law states. On those days — as well as a few other holidays — Georgians can shoot off fireworks until 11:59 p.m.

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It's also illegal to use fireworks within any park, historic site, recreational area or other state property; on roads or highways; or within 100 yards of the following places:

  • Electric plant
  • Water treatment plant
  • Waste-water treatment plant
  • Gas station
  • Refinery
  • Electric substation
  • Jail or prison
  • Helipad
  • Hospital
  • Nursing home
  • Other health care facility

Fireworks also cannot be legally set off by anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Public displays/exhibitions of fireworks require a permit from the local governing agency.

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Additionally, Gov. Brian Kemp can ban the use of fireworks in any area of Georgia that's under drought.

All consumer fireworks are legal to purchase and use across Georgia, including:

  • Sparklers
  • Bottle rockets
  • Fountains
  • Missiles
  • Novelties
  • Sky rockets
  • Roman candles
  • Firecrackers
  • Smoke and punk
  • Crackle and strobe
  • Wheels and spinners
  • Parachutes
  • Display shells
  • Sky flyers
  • Aerial items (cakes)

See Also: Atlanta's 4th Of July Fireworks 2021 Canceled

Massachusetts is the only state where fireworks are completely banned aside from professional displays, according to a May report from Reader’s Digest. Illinois, Ohio and Vermont have the next-strictest laws in 2021, the report said.

Indiana — which lies between Illinois and Ohio — has among the most lenient fireworks laws.

Kris Zambo, owner of Dynamite Fireworks in Hammond, Indiana, told Patch in 2018 that a law passed in the mid-2000s essentially made fireworks “wide open” in the Hoosier State. His store’s proximity to the Illinois border allowed the family to turn a side business selling fireworks into a permanent store, drawing droves of cars from Illinois.

See Also: How To Keep People, Pets Safe During 4th of July Fireworks

“About 80 percent of our customers come from Illinois,” Zambo told Patch.

Dynamite Fireworks is one of many northwest Indiana fireworks stores that beckon Illinois consumers to cross the border with gaudy billboards promising the biggest bang for the buck. The region has gained a reputation as the unofficial fireworks capital of America, with more than 100 consumer-grade fireworks retailers.

Related On Patch: Fireworks On The Down-Low: Indiana Retailers Do Booming Business

States with stricter fireworks laws have cited data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission that shows thousands of people are injured in fireworks-related injuries every year, with multiple deaths reported as well. In 2019, about 10,000 fireworks injuries were treated in hospital emergency rooms. Fireworks-related deaths totaled 12 in that year, according to the commission.

The commission has stated fuses on fireworks need to burn somewhere between three seconds and nine seconds to be safe and legal. Legal fireworks can also have no more than 50 milligrams of pyrotechnic composition to be legal, the commission said.

Fireworks celebrations in America date back to 1777, when the first 4th of July celebration occurred. Oddly enough, there were no red, white and blue fireworks to mark the one-year anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Fireworks came in only one color — orange — back then, according to the Smithsonian Institution.

Georgia Fireworks Shows On and Off In 2021

Fireworks Safety

The nonprofit National Council on Fireworks Safety offers these fireworks safety tips:

  • Know your fireworks. Read the caution labels and performance descriptions before igniting.
  • Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks.
  • Light one firework at a time and then quickly move away.
  • Never relight a "dud" firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
  • Always have a bucket of water and charged water hose nearby.
  • Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and place in a metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials until the next day.
  • Don't bring your pets to a fireworks display, even a small one.
  • If fireworks are being used near your home, put your pet in a safe, interior room to avoid exposure to the sound.
  • Make sure your pet has an identification tag, in case it runs off during a fireworks display.

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