Courtenay fireworks rules
Are fireworks allowed?
Short answer
Not for private use in the City of Courtenay. Under Fire Protective Services Bylaw 2556, low hazard fireworks are allowed only at a public event authorized in writing by Council, with a Fire Chief permit. Firecrackers cannot be used at all, and no one under 18 may light, hold or possess fireworks.
Key facts
| Setting off fireworks | No, not for private use. Possessing or exploding low hazard fireworks is allowed only at a public event authorized in writing by Council and with a Fire Chief permit; sparklers, Christmas crackers and toy-gun caps are excluded. Firecrackers cannot be used at all. Under 18s may not light, hold or possess fireworks.Fire Protective Services Bylaw No. 2556, 2008, s. 67, 70, 75, 76, 78 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall, at any time, sell, give, possess or explode Low Hazard Fireworks, excluding sparklers, Christmas crackers and caps for toy guns, except under the following conditions: sponsoring organization or person conducting a public event if such event is authorized by written permission of Council and the Fire Chief has issued a permit No person shall offer for sale, sell, use, detonate or explode Firecrackers. No person under the age of 18 may light, hold or explode any Fireworks at any time. No person under the age of 18 may possess any fireworks in the City. |
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| Selling fireworks | No. No one may offer to sell or cause fireworks to be sold, and firecrackers may not be sold at all. Fireworks may not be sold or given to anyone under 18.Fire Protective Services Bylaw No. 2556, 2008, s. 69, 77, 78 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall offer to sell, or cause Fireworks to be sold. No person may sell, give or dispose of any fireworks of any class or description to a person who is under the age of 18 years. No person shall offer for sale, sell, use, detonate or explode Firecrackers. |
| What counts as fireworks | Fireworks include cannon crackers, fireballs, firecrackers, mines, roman candles, sky rockets, squibs and torpedoes. Caps for toy products, Christmas crackers, sparklers and model rocket engines are not included. Low hazard includes showers, fountains, golden rain, lawn lights, pin wheels, roman candles and volcanoes.Fire Protective Services Bylaw No. 2556, 2008, s. 1 (definitions) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingbut does not include caps for toy products, Christmas crackers, includes firework showers, fountains, golden rain, lawn lights, pin wheels, roman means small fireworks with entwined fuses used solely as noisemakers |
| Permit | Only a sponsoring organization or person running a public event authorized in writing by Council can get a Fire Chief permit for low hazard fireworks (application fee $25). High hazard: religious or ceremonial events only, applicant over 18 with Explosives Regulatory Division certification; fee $50 plus a $150 Fire Safety Plan review charge. $2 million liability insurance is required.Fire Protective Services Bylaw No. 2556, 2008, s. 67(1), 68(1), 73, 80, 82; Sched. C · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingsponsoring organization or person conducting a public event if such event is authorized by written permission of Council and the Fire Chief has issued a permit High Hazard Fireworks may be used for religious or ceremonial purposes by a in an amount not less than two million dollars. to a person who is over the age of eighteen (18) years Review and administration of $150.00 Non-Refundable Application Fee of $25.00 Non-Refundable Application Fee is $50.00 |
| Fine | Municipal ticket: $100 each for possessing low hazard fireworks (s. 67), possessing high hazard fireworks (s. 68), selling fireworks (s. 69), and selling or detonating firecrackers (s. 78).Fire Protective Services Bylaw No. 2556, 2008, Schedule C · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPossession of Low Hazard $100.00 Possession of High Hazard $100.00 Sale of Fireworks $100.00 Sale or Detonation of $100.00 |
| Bylaw | Fire Protective Services Bylaw No. 2556, 2008Open burning, Regulations within the City of Courtenay · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis ban is enforced under Fire Protective Services Bylaw No. 2556. |
How it works
Under the City of Courtenay's Fire Protective Services Bylaw 2556, private use of fireworks is not allowed. Possessing or exploding low hazard fireworks is allowed only at a public event authorized in writing by Council and with a Fire Chief permit. Low hazard fireworks may also be exploded on private property only with the owner's written consent. Sparklers, Christmas crackers and caps for toy guns are excluded. The bylaw sets no dates or hours such as Halloween.
Good to know
- Permit: only a sponsoring organization or person running an authorized public event can get a low hazard permit (application fee $25).
- High hazard fireworks: religious or ceremonial events only, applicant over 18 with Explosives Regulatory Division certification. The fee is $50 plus a $150 Fire Safety Plan review charge.
- Organizers need $2 million in liability insurance.
- No one may offer to sell or cause fireworks to be sold, and firecrackers cannot be sold at all. Fireworks may not be sold or given to anyone under 18.
- A municipal ticket is $100 for possessing low or high hazard fireworks, selling fireworks, or selling or detonating firecrackers. The bylaw also allows prosecution up to the Offence Act maximum.
- To ask about a permit, contact the Courtenay Fire Department at 250-334-2513.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Comox · Cumberland · Powell River · Campbell River · Port Alberni · Qualicum Beach
Sources
- Fire Protective Services Bylaw No. 2556, 2008 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Open burning, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
- Contact us, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.