GEORGIA – As plans for the July 4th celebration in Georgia mount, those looking to launch fireworks can brush up on the laws regarding the popular vacation activity.
Georgia allows fireworks between 10 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. every weekday, but local governments can restrict these times through noise regulations.
However, the July 3rd and 4th Independence Day celebrations are exempt from local ordinance restrictions, according to Georgia law. On these days – as well as some other public holidays – Georgians can fire fireworks until 11:59 p.m.
It is also illegal to use fireworks in parks, historic sites, recreational areas, or other government properties; on streets or highways; or within 100 meters of the following locations:
- Electrical system
- Sewage treatment plant
- Water treatment plant
- Gas station
- refinery
- Substation
- Jail or jail
- Helipad
- hospital
- Old people’s home
- Other health facility
Fireworks may also not legally be set off by people who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Public display / exhibition of fireworks requires approval from the local administrative authority.
In addition, Governor Brian Kemp can ban the use of fireworks in all drought-affected areas of Georgia.
All consumer fireworks are legal to buy and use across Georgia, including:
- Sparklers
- Bottle rockets
- Fountain
- Missiles
- new hits
- Sky rockets
- Roman candles
- Fireworks
- Smoke and punk
- Crackling and strobe
- Wheels and spinners
- Parachutes
- Show shells
- Sky flyer
- Aerial articles (cake)
See also: Atlanta’s fireworks on July 4, 2021 canceled
Massachusetts is the only state where fireworks are completely banned aside from professional displays, according to a May report by Reader’s Digest. Illinois, Ohio and Vermont will have the next strictest laws in 2021, the report said.
Indiana – which lies between Illinois and Ohio – has one of the mildest fireworks laws.
Kris Zambo, owner of Dynamite Fireworks in Hammond, Indiana, told Patch in 2018 that a bill passed in the mid-2000s essentially made fireworks “wide open” in Hoosier State. His store’s proximity to the Illinois border enabled the family to convert a sideline that sold fireworks into a permanent business that attracted crowds of Illinois automobiles.
See also: How to Protect People and Pets During the July 4th Fireworks Show
“About 80 percent of our customers are from Illinois,” Zambo told Patch.
Dynamite Fireworks is one of many fireworks stores in northwest Indiana that invite Illinois consumers to cross the border with garish billboards that promise the best value for money. The region has built a reputation as the unofficial fireworks capital of America with more than 100 consumer fireworks retailers.
Related Patch: Fireworks at Rock Bottom: Indiana Retailers Booming Business
States with stricter fireworks laws have cited data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission showing that thousands of people are injured in firework injuries every year, with several deaths reported. In 2019, approximately 10,000 fireworks injuries were treated in hospital emergency rooms. There were 12 deaths from fireworks this year, according to the commission.
The commission has stated that fuses on fireworks must burn between three and nine seconds to be safe and legal. Legal fireworks must also contain no more than 50 milligrams of pyrotechnic composition to be legal, the commission said.
Fireworks celebrations in America date back to 1777 when the July 1st celebration took place. Strangely enough, there were no red-white-blue fireworks for the one-year anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Fireworks came in only one color back then – orange – according to the Smithsonian Institution.
Georgia Fireworks shows on and off in 2021
Fireworks safety
The nonprofit National Council on Fireworks Safety offers these firework safety tips:
- Know your fireworks. Read the warning stickers and performance descriptions before igniting.
- Wear protective glasses when shooting fireworks.
- Light fireworks at a time, then quickly move away.
- Never re-light a “blind” firework. Wait 20 minutes, then soak it in a bucket of water.
- Always keep a bucket of water and a loaded water hose nearby.
- Dispose of used fireworks by moistening them and placing them in a metal trash can, away from buildings or flammable materials, until the next day.
- Don’t bring your pets to a fireworks display, even a small one.
- If fireworks are used near your home, move your pet to a safe indoor area to avoid the noise.
- Make sure your pet has an identification tag in case they run away during fireworks.
