Firework Safety

Firework Safety

Dear Residents,

Fireworks and bonfires can be enjoyable and a great opportunity to bring people together. However, setting off fireworks or spontaneous bonfires can also cause stress and disruption to residents, wildlife, and household pets.

We recommend attending organised community firework and bonfire displays rather than doing this at home. If you doing a display at home, ensure you have buckets of sand, water, or fire extinguishers to hand to put out any flames.

Remember it’s an offence to throw or set off any firework (including sparklers and category 1 fireworks) in or into any highway, street, thoroughfare or public space.

Everyone should be able to enjoy fireworks safely, whether at an organised display or in their back garden. Here you’ll find out the law around using fireworks as well as how to stay safe, and report those using fireworks in a dangerous or threatening way.

Fireworks can be used in the UK any time from 7am to 11pm.

Exceptions are:

According to The Fireworks Regulations 2004 and The Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015:

What is the impact of firework misuse?

Used irresponsibly, fireworks can cause damage to property and do significant harm to people and animals. Not only is there a danger from fireworks exploding, they can also pose a serious fire risk as well.

This is why members of the public may only use fireworks on private property, such as their back gardens, and only licensed professionals can use them in public places.

What you can do

If a local retailer is selling adult fireworks to people under 18, please report it to your local Trading Standards.

If children are setting off fireworks in your area, our first advice is to ask them politely to stop. It’s possible they’re unaware that they are breaking the law. If you know their parents, perhaps ask them to intervene. 

If you’re having an ongoing problem with people setting off fireworks, please report antisocial behaviour to us.

Download our firework code postcard here