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What Cities are Opting Out of the New Fireworks Law in Ohio?

As of July 1, 2022, Ohioans can legally set off consumer-grade fireworks on private property. The law specifies that fireworks only be set off on certain holidays, about 20 days a year. The permitted days include:

  • New Year’s Eve
  • New Year’s Day
  • Chinese New Year
  • Diwali
  • Cinco de Mayo
  • Juneteenth
  • Memorial Day weekend
  • Labor Day weekend
  • July 3, 4, 5, and the three-day weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) surrounding July 4.

Using fireworks under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances is prohibited—anyone who violates this is guilty of a first-degree misdemeanor.
ohio fireworks law

Which cities are opting out of the new law?

If you are cited for discharging fireworks in the following cities, it is a first-degree misdemeanor*:

  • Akron
  • Albany
  • Amherst
  • Aurora
  • Avon Lake
  • Barberton
  • Bay Village
  • Beavercreek
  • Bedford
  • Berea
  • Bexley
  • Brecksville
  • Broadview Heights
  • Brook Park
  • Brunswick
  • Canal Winchester
  • Cincinnati
  • Cleveland
  • Cleveland Heights
  • Columbus
  • Concord Township
  • Dayton
  • Delaware
  • Dublin
  • Eastlake
  • Euclid
  • Fairborn
  • Fairfield
  • Fairport Harbor
  • Fostoria
  • Gahanna
  • Germantown
  • Grandview Heights
  • Grove City
  • Groveport
  • Highland Heights
  • Hilliard
  • Kettering
  • Lakewood
  • Lorain
    • Only allowing the discharge of fireworks on July 4, Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth, and New Year’s Eve.
  • Lyndhurst
  • Madison Township
  • Mansfield
    • Likely to opt-out
  • Marysville
  • Mayfield Heights
  • Mayfield Village
  • Medina
  • Mentor
    • Possession is legal, discharge is illegal
  • Mentor-on-the-Lake
  • Middleburg Heights
  • Mogadore
  • Newburgh Heights
  • North Olmsted
  • North Royalton
  • Oakwood
  • Oberlin
  • Orange
  • Parma
  • Parma Heights
  • Pataskala
  • Pepper Pike
  • Perry Village
  • Pickerington
  • Powell
  • Richmond Heights
  • Rocky River
  • Sandusky
    • Only allowing the discharge of fireworks on Memorial Day, July 3 – 5, and New Year’s Eve until 11:59 p.m.
  • Seven Hills
  • Shaker Heights
  • Silver Lake
  • South Euclid
  • Strongsville
  • Tallmadge
  • Toledo
  • Twinsburg
  • University Heights
  • Upper Arlington
  • Vandalia
  • Vermillion
  • Wadsworth
  • Warrensville Heights
  • Westerville
  • Westlake
  • Willoughby Hills
  • Worthington

*The following list will be updated pending the signing of new legislation.

Safety tips for using legal fireworks

If you live in an area where it’s legal to use consumer-grade fireworks, follow these tips from the National Safety Council to keep you and your family safe:

  • Don’t let younger children use fireworks
  • Supervise older children while they use fireworks
  • Avoid using fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs. While dangerous to do, it’s also illegal
  • Make sure only to use fireworks away from any people, animals, houses, and flammable material
  • Don’t aim or point fireworks in the direction of objects or people
  • Maintain a safe distance after igniting
  • Keep lit fireworks out of containers
  • Never handle or try to re-light malfunctioning fireworks
  • Soak used and unused fireworks in water before throwing away
  • Keep a bucket of water nearby to douse malfunctioning fireworks or in case of fire
  • Never use illegal fireworks