Don't Get A Fine: See Mercer Island Fireworks Laws

MERCER ISLAND, WA - Fireworks season is upon us. While local cities are preparing big fireworks shows for July 4, fireworks vendors are getting ready to start selling fireworks in some areas beginning on June 28.

Some cities adhere to state laws on fireworks, but many cities have laws either banning fireworks altogether or regulating when they can be used and sold.

First, here are the state law guidelines:

• On June 28 you can sell fireworks from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. and use them from 12 to 11 p.m.
• June 29 to July 3 you can sell fireworks from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and use them from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• On July 4 you can sell fireworks from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and use them from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• On July 5 you can sell fireworks from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and use them from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Here are cities that have different guidelines:

• Beaux Arts Village - Total ban, $300 fine
• Bellevue - Total ban, $1,000 fine
• Bonney Lake - Follows state law on sales, but sales are banned July 5. You can only discharge on July 4, 9 a.m. - 12 a.m.
• Burien - Total ban, $125 fine
• Edgewood - Follows state law on sales. You can only discharge on July 4, 9 a.m. - 12 a.m.
• Edmonds - Total ban
• Enumclaw - Fireworks on sale June 28 at 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. and June 29 to July 3, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., and July 4, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can only discharge fireworks on July 4, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Gig Harbor - Follows state law on sales except on July 5 when sales are allowed 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. You can discharge fireworks July 1 to July 3, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and July 4, 9 a.m. to 12 a.m
• Issaquah - Total ban, $1,000 fine
• King County (unincorporated) - Follows state law on sales, but no sales July 5. Discharge allowed July 4 9 a.m. to midnight.
• Kirkland - Total ban without public display permit
• Lake Forest Park - Total ban
• Lakewood - Follows state law on sales, but sales are banned July 5. You can discharge fireworks July 3 to July 5, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Medina - Total Ban
• Mercer Island - Fireworks on sale June 28 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. and June 29 to July 4, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can only discharge fireworks on July 4, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Newcastle - Total ban
• Pierce County (unincorporated) - Sales allowed June 28, 12:00 p.m. to 11 p.m., June 29 to July 4, 9 am. to 11 p.m. Discharge allowed July 1 to July 3 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., July 4 10 a.m. to 12 a.m., and July 5 10 a.m. to 11 p.m
• Puyallup - Follows state law on sales except on July 4 when sales are allowed 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fireworks sales banned on July 5. You can discharge July 4, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Redmond - Total ban
• Renton - Total ban
• Sammamish - Total ban, $1,000 fine
• Seattle - Total ban, $5,000 fine possible
• SeaTac - Total ban
• Shoreline - Total ban
• Snohomish County (unincorporated areas) - Follows State Law except on July 5, 9 a.m.
• to 12 p.m. You can discharge July 4, 9 a.m. to 12 a.m
• Sumner - Fireworks sales allowed on June 28, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. and June 29 to July 4, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can discharge July 4, 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.
• Tacoma - Total ban, $257 fine
• Tukwila - Total ban
• University Place - Fireworks can be sold June 28, 12 p.m. to 11 p.m., June 29 to July 3, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., and July 4, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can discharge on July 4, 9 a.m. to 12 a.m.
• Woodinville - Total ban without public display permit, violation punishable as misdemeanor
• Yarrow Point - Total ban

Fireworks law information from Washington State Patrol.

File photo by Neal McNamara/Patch