Ohio – Its not even July, and many people are hearing fireworks around the area, and they are legal this weekend. How is this?
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s office signed an Amended Substitute House Bill 172 in 2021 that legislation that will allow fireworks to be legalized during certain holidays starting this weekend. Governor DeWine issued the following statement on the legislation:
“Amended Substitute House Bill 172 is a better bill than Senate Bill 113, which was the original fireworks bill that I vetoed. Because it was clear to me that the legislature would have overridden my veto, making Senate Bill 113 the law, I worked with the General Assembly to arrive at a compromise that included changes I wanted to see in the legislation.
“For example, the bill I signed (HB 172) limits the discharge of fireworks to the more traditional holidays that Ohioans celebrate, while recognizing our numerous culturally diverse holidays. The compromise bill also reduces, by half, the allowable increase in showroom size originally offered in Senate Bill 113, while requiring enhanced fire sprinkler systems. The measure further prohibits the discharge of fireworks while in possession of, or under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances or on another person’s property without that person’s permission.
Under the new bill it would only allow Fireworks to be legally set off in the state under guidelines such as New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year, Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day weekend, Juneteenth, July 3, 4, and 5. Also included in 4th of July language is, “and the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday immediately before and after July 4th (4 p.m.-11 p.m.)” This year, that is June 27,28, and 29th.
Yesterday Fairfield Sheriff was called to a neighborhood after a disturbance was reported; that disturbance wasn’t just fireworks, but neighbors who were screaming at the man setting off the fireworks.
Some cities, villages and towns have adopted ordinances that would prohibit firework use within the areas, also: Local political subdivisions may ban fireworks or restrict the dates and times that fireworks can be used. It was written directly into the law. “Even though state law allows consumers to discharge 1.4G fireworks on the above dates and times, political subdivisions (villages, cities, townships or counties) can ban the use of fireworks within their boundaries. They can also restrict the dates and/or times that fireworks can be used by consumers within their boundaries. If a political subdivision takes such action, the local law controls in that area. So, consumers should check their local laws to make sure consumer discharge of fireworks is legal in their area.”
legalities of the fireworks are that
No person under the age of 18 is permitted to handle or discharge fireworks.
• Persons under the age of 18 cannot be within 150 feet of the discharge point of aerial fireworks.
• Aerial devices cannot be discharged within 150 feet of spectators (this includes aerial shells, roman candles, cakes, and bottle rockets).
• Non-aerial devices cannot be discharged within 50 feet of spectators (this includes fountains, firecrackers, and ground effect devices).
Fireworks cannot be larger than 1.4G by citizens.
