Highlands fireworks rules
Are fireworks allowed in Highlands?
Short answer
In Highlands, consumer fireworks may be set off only with a permit, and only on October 31 between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. The permit applicant must be 18 or older. Firecrackers are banned outright, and selling fireworks is not allowed.
Key facts
| Setting off fireworks | Only with a permit. Consumer fireworks may be discharged only on October 31 between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. (or in exceptional circumstances under municipal policy). The permit applicant must be 18 or older. No one under 18 may possess or use fireworks, and parents may not allow it.Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 254, 2007 (consolidated to 2009), s. 3(4), (5), (8), (9); s. 4(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo person may hold, possess, store, discharge, or otherwise use consumer fireworks No person may discharge consumer fireworks except on October 31st of each year between 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. No person under the age of eighteen (18) years may hold, possess, store, discharge, Any person eighteen (18) years of age or older before discharging consumer |
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| Selling fireworks | Not allowed: no person may sell fireworks.Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 254, 2007 (consolidated to 2009), s. 3(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo person may sell fireworks. |
| What counts as fireworks | 'Fireworks' means consumer fireworks (such as fountains, Roman candles, pin wheels and volcanoes), display fireworks (such as rockets and shells) and pyrotechnic special effects fireworks. Consumer fireworks do not include Christmas crackers, sparklers and caps for toy guns. Firecrackers are banned outright.Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 254, 2007 (consolidated to 2009), s. 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording“Fireworks” means consumer fireworks, display fireworks, and pyrotechnic special effects but does not include Christmas crackers, sparklers, and caps for toy guns; No person may buy, sell, hold, possess, store, discharge, or otherwise use |
| Permit | Anyone 18 or older must apply to the municipality for a permit. Consumer fireworks: apply by noon on October 31 (or the last business day before); the applicant needs a Certification Card and a Fireworks Safety Course within the past three years. Display fireworks: apply 30 days ahead. Fees: $10 consumer, $75 display.Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 254, 2007 (consolidated to 2009), s. 4(1), 4(2)(a), Schedule F · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingmust be submitted to the municipality by no later than 12:00 p.m. on October 31st the applicant has successfully completed the Fireworks Safety Course within the three year period Fireworks Permit $10.00 Display Fireworks Permit $75.00 |
| Fine | Selling fireworks: $500. Using or possessing without a permit, or unsafe discharge: $200. Discharging outside the permitted date and time: $200. Bylaw notices give $160 within 14 days and $240 after 28 days; municipal tickets the full amount.Sources differ: CONFLICT: the fireworks bylaw's own Schedule F (2009) lists $100 for possessing firecrackers (and, by its table, for discharge outside the permitted period and other offences) and $200 for possessing fireworks without a permit. The 2025 ticket bylaws (No. 475 and 478) list $200 for firecrackers and for discharge outside the permitted period. The 2025 bylaws were used as current.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 475, 2025, Schedule A, Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 254; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 478, 2025, Schedule A, Appendix 9; Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 254, 2007 (consolidated to 2009), Schedule F · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingSale of fireworks 3.1 $500.00 $400.00 $600.00 Discharge outside permitted period 3.5 $200.00 $160.00 $240.00 Sale of fireworks 3.1 $500.00 Discharge outside permitted period 3.5 $200.00 Possess firecrackers 3.3 Firecrackers $100.00 Possess fireworks 3.4 Permit $200.00 |
| Bylaw | Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 254, 2007.Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 254, 2007 (consolidated to 2009), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “Fireworks Regulation Bylaw” No. 254, |
How it works
The Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 254, 2007 allows consumer fireworks (such as fountains, Roman candles, pin wheels and volcanoes) only with a permit. They may be discharged only on October 31 between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., or in exceptional circumstances under municipal policy. No one under 18 may possess or use fireworks, and parents may not allow it. Christmas crackers, sparklers and caps for toy guns are outside the definition.
Steps
- Anyone 18 or older applies to the District for a permit.
- For consumer fireworks, apply by noon on October 31 (or the last business day before). You need a Certification Card and a Fireworks Safety Course taken within the past three years.
- For display fireworks, apply 30 days ahead. Pyrotechnic special effects permits go through the Fire Chief.
Good to know
- Firecrackers and "prohibited fireworks" (cherry bombs, M-80s and similar) are banned outright. No person may sell fireworks.
- Fireworks are also banned in District parks.
- Fees in the 2009 consolidation of the bylaw: $10 consumer, $75 display.
- Fines: selling fireworks $500; using or possessing without a permit, unsafe discharge, or discharging outside the permitted date and time $200. Bylaw notices give $160 within 14 days and $240 after 28 days on the $200 amounts; municipal tickets show the full amount.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Langford · View Royal · Central Saanich · Colwood · Esquimalt · Saanich
Sources
- Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 254, 2007 (consolidated to 2009) (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 475, 2025 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 478, 2025 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
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.