Fireworks

All consumer fireworks are illegal in the City and County of San Diego. That includes sparklers, firecrackers, cherry bombs, bottle rockets and even poppers. (Municipal Code §511.5601)

While fireworks have been a longstanding tradition for celebrations and holidays like the Fourth of July, they should be strictly handled by professionals. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the use of consumer fireworks resulted in an estimated 34,079 fires in 2024 alone, including:

• 3,246 structure fires
• 857 vehicle fires
• 29,517 outside fires
• 459 unclassified fires

These fires resulted in 59 civilian injuries and $98 million in direct property damage.

In addition to being illegal and a fire risk, consumer fireworks can also lead to devastating burns, injuries, or worse. In 2024, an estimated 14,700 people were treated for firework-related injuries in emergency departments across the U.S. Nearly half of these injuries were to the extremities (35% hands and fingers, 8% legs, 5% arms) and 22% were to the head, face, and ears. The highest injury rates are often young children and teens.

Under California law, fireworks violations may be charged as a misdemeanor and can carry fines between $1,000 and $2,000, up to one year in county jail, or both. Penalties increase based on the type and number of fireworks involved. In some cases, fines can reach up to $100,000.

Protect your loved ones. Protect your community. Leave the fireworks to the professionals.