CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Just in time for the holiday weekend, a new law goes into effect that allows Ohioans and their visitors to set off fireworks that have long been illegal. However, the new law is still barred in some cities.
The new law allows people to set off consumer grade fireworks on certain holidays, including New Year’s Eve and Day, Chinese New Year, Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth, days on and around July 4, Labor Day, and the Hindu festival of Diwali.
However, not all cities are adopting the statewide legislation. As part of the new law, any political subdivision may opt-out of allowing the ability to discharge. Among those, are Chillicothe.
In recent legislation, at the request of the fire and police chiefs, city council passed legislation banning fireworks within the city. The chiefs cited security risks, potential fire hazards, and overall safety concerns.
Other local cities and villages around the state have adopted similar legislation.
For those areas where the law is legal, some provisions still apply:
There are several rules for Ohioans to follow when it comes to igniting and discharging fireworks, as provided by the Ohio Department of Commerce.
• 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.
• No person can use fireworks while in possession or control of, or under the influence of, any intoxicating liquor, beer, or controlled substance. A person who violates this is guilty of a first-degree misdemeanor.
• 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).
• No person can store in excess of 125 pounds (net weight of pyrotechnic composition) of fireworks unless they have additional safety measures and safeguards in place for such storage.
• Fireworks cannot be discharged indoors.
• Fireworks cannot be aimed at or discharged toward any person or object (such as buildings).
• Fireworks cannot be discharged on public property or private school property.
• Fireworks cannot be discharged if drought conditions exist or in an area where a red flag warning is in place or other weather hazard exists.