Can I report my neighbor for setting off fireworks in Fresno? What to know about city rules

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Neighborhood Nuisances in Fresno

A multi-part series by The Fresno Bee

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Can I be fined for throwing a loud party in Fresno? See city rules about noise

My neighbor’s dog barks all night. What can I do about it? See Fresno rules for pets

Can my neighbor throw garbage in my can? Toss trash in the street? See Fresno’s rules

Can I report my neighbor for setting off fireworks in Fresno? What to know about city rules

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Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in a multi-part series about neighborhood nuisances in the Fresno area.

Fireworks can be heard around Fresno, especially around the Fourth of July.

However, it’s not uncommon to see pyrotechnics all year long, prompting some city residents to express their irritation on social media.

In September, Reddit user Wooden_Cold_8084 complained about people setting off illegal fireworks in their southeast Fresno neighborhood.

“As someone with (post traumatic stress disorder) and whose only time to relax is during the later hours .. it’s frustrating to say the least,” the Reddit user wrote. “Things have gotten crazier in many parts of town. I’m seriously thinking of moving out to the countryside altogether.”

“Fireworks are like a year round thing in these parts,” Reddit user rawpunkmeg wrote in a comment.

What are Fresno’s rules about fireworks use? And what can you do if your neighbor is setting them off illegally?

Here’s what The Fresno Bee found out:

What kinds of fireworks are legal in Fresno? When?

According to the city of Fresno, only so-called “safe and sane” fireworks are legal to purchase in California.

Safe and sane fireworks, are fireworks that don’t fly or explode like fountains and sparklers. according to the website of Siusun city in California.

“There are nearly 300 California communities that allow ‘safe and sane” fireworks,” the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said on its website.

According to a list provided by the California Office of the State Fire Marshal, there are a total of 17 licensed fireworks retail booths in Fresno County, including in Clovis, Coalinga, Fowler, Fresno,and Kerman

In Fresno, “safe and sane” fireworks are generally allowed “365 days a year between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.”

Exceptions apply from June 28 through July 6, when fireworks can be discharged from 7 a.m. to midnight, according to the city.

There are also restrictions on selling fireworks.

“It is unlawful for any person to sell ‘safe and sane’ fireworks within the city of Fresno without a permit issued by the fire chief or designee,” the city said.

Which fireworks are illegal in California?

According to Cal Fire, the following fireworks are considered illegal in California:

• Sky rockets
• Bottle rockets
• Roman candles
• Aerial shells
• Firecrackers
• Other fireworks that explode, go into the air or move on the ground in an uncontrollable manner

Fireworks are illegal in parts of California due to the risk of wildfires, which can cause serious injuries and millions of dollars in property damage, The Fresno Bee previously reported.

However, local jurisdictions can impose their own rules for fireworks use.

What are penalties for illegal fireworks use?

The city of Fresno passed an ordinance in 2022 that spells out the penalties for the possession, use, storage, sale or display of illegal fireworks.

Anyone caught setting off illegal fireworks can expect a fine of $2,000 for a first violation, the city said on its website.

The fee increases to $3,000 for a second violation within a rolling 12-month period, and $5,000.00 for third or subsequent violations within a rolling 12-month period, according to the city.

“Each fine is accompanied by an administrative fee of $250,” the city said.

If you sell fireworks in Fresno without a permit, you could face a fine of up to four times the standard permit amount — $2,504 — and possible criminal charges, the city said on its website.

How to set off fireworks safely

Here are some tips from Cal Fire regarding the safe use of fireworks:

• Always read directions
• Always have an adult present
• Only use fireworks outdoors
• Never use fireworks near dry grass or other flammable materials
• Light one firework at a time
• Have a bucket of water and a hose nearby
• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse
• Back up several feet immediately after lighting a firework
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person
• Never experiment with fireworks
• Never attempt to re-light or “fix” fireworks
• Do not wear loose-fitting clothing while lighting fireworks
• Never carry fireworks in your pockets

Fernanda Galan

The Fresno Bee

559-441-6005

Fernanda Galan covers Central Valley and California news as The Fresno Bee’s service journalism reporter. Before joining The Bee in 2024, she reported in Milwaukee, Arizona and Los Angeles. She is a graduate of Arizona State’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.