Pennsylvania’s fireworks laws have changed since the last Fourth of July, and a recent recall has deemed a host of brands too dangerous for use. Here’s what you need to know as you gear up for the holiday.
What fireworks can you buy?
Pennsylvanians are allowed to purchase “consumer fireworks,” which contain up to 50 milligrams of explosive material. This includes firecrackers, Roman candles and bottle rockets, among others.
Before 2017, only smaller fireworks — ones that don’t shoot high into the air, like sparklers and fountains — were allowed to be sold in the state.
Anything with more than 50 milligrams of explosives, like the professional-grade fireworks you’d see at a sports game or public festival, are still off-limits to the average consumer and require special licensing or permits.
Where can you buy them?
As of this year, you can no longer buy airborne fireworks — like bottle rockets and Roman candles — at roadside tents. The “good stuff,” instead, is only available at brick and mortar stores.
This change is the result of a lawsuit that fireworks stores brought against the state. The York Daily Record reported that Phantom Fireworks and some Sky King stores sued the Commonwealth, arguing that their buildings were equipped with safety measures that the pop-up tents lack.
The lawsuit also alleged that the tents — which were regulated by a state agency rather than a federal one — had an unfair competitive advantage due to lower overhead and licensing fees, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Where can you shoot them off?
There are strict rules about where you can legally use the aerial fireworks that were made available in 2017. Pennsylvania State Police restrictions include:
- You must be more than 150 feet away from any “occupied structure” — defined as “any structure, vehicle or place adapted for overnight accommodation” or business — whether or not any people are present there.
- You can’t set them off on public or private property without express permission of the owner.
- You can’t set them off from, within or toward a building or vehicle.
- You can’t set them off if you’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
And keep in mind — local municipalities may have regulations that differ from state or federal guidelines. Lower Paxton Township, for example, recently passed an ordinance prohibiting the use of fireworks on properties less than one acre. And Swatara Township banned them on any day that’s not within a week of a recognized federal holiday.
How to stay safe
Last week, the U.S. Consumer Product Commission recalled a handful of fireworks brands that were “overloaded with pyrotechnics” — which are intended to create noise, but can also increase the risk of burns and dangerous explosions. One such explosion cost an 8-year-old boy his hand and injured a 12-year-old, according to the CPC.