{"title":"Nanaimo fireworks rules","question":"Are fireworks allowed?","slug":"fireworks","place":{"path":"ca/bc/nanaimo","name":"Nanaimo","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"bylaws-and-complaints","name":"Bylaws, noise and complaints"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Nanaimo","url":"https://www.nanaimo.ca"},"short_answer":"No. In the City of Nanaimo no one may light, discharge or possess fireworks without a Fireworks Permit from the Fire Chief, and no one may sell, give or trade them. There are no general dates or hours for residents. Tickets are $200.","aliases":["firecrackers nanaimo","halloween fireworks nanaimo","fireworks permit nanaimo","can i set off fireworks in nanaimo"],"cost":"Permit $100 per event, plus $100 per site inspection; $1,000 security deposit. Tickets $200 (selling, possessing or firing without a permit) or $100 (permit breaches).","how_long":"Apply to the Fire Chief at least 14 days before the event.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Fireworks Permits and Info","value":"https://www.nanaimo.ca/public-safety/fire-rescue/fireworks-permits---info"},{"type":"phone","label":"Nanaimo Fire Rescue","value":"250-753-7311","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":["Valid Fireworks Supervisor's Certificate","Public liability insurance of $2,000,000","$1,000 security deposit","Fire safety plan","Property owner's permission"],"forms":[{"title":"Fireworks Permits and Info","url":"https://www.nanaimo.ca/public-safety/fire-rescue/fireworks-permits---info"},{"title":"Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 7049 (PDF)","url":"https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7049.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"backyard-fire","title":"Nanaimo backyard fire and burning rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/backyard-fire/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Nanaimo bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/lantzville","name":"Lantzville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/fireworks/"},{"place":"ca/bc/ladysmith","name":"Ladysmith","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/fireworks/"},{"place":"ca/bc/parksville","name":"Parksville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/fireworks/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sechelt","name":"Sechelt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/fireworks/"},{"place":"ca/bc/qualicum-beach","name":"Qualicum Beach","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/fireworks/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lake-cowichan","name":"Lake Cowichan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/fireworks/"}],"topic":{"title":"Fireworks rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fireworks/"},"facts":{"use":{"label":"Setting off fireworks","value":"No. No one may light or discharge fireworks in Nanaimo without a valid Fireworks Permit issued by the Fire Chief, and possession without a permit is also prohibited. There are no general dates or hours for residents to set off consumer fireworks.","short":"No, without a Fireworks Permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7049.pdf","title":"Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049 (PDF)","section":"ss. 5-6","quotes":["No person shall explode, light, activate, fire or discharge Fireworks within the boundaries","unless that person holds a valid Fireworks Permit issued under this bylaw."]},{"url":"https://www.nanaimo.ca/public-safety/fire-rescue/fireworks-permits---info","title":"Fireworks Permits and Info, City of Nanaimo","section":"web page","quotes":["Without a Fireworks permit, fireworks are NOT permitted within the City of Nanaimo."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"sale":{"label":"Selling fireworks","value":"No. No one may offer for sale, sell, give or trade fireworks within the City.","short":"No","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7049.pdf","title":"Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049 (PDF)","section":"s. 4","quotes":["No person shall offer for sale, sell, give, or trade Fireworks within the boundaries of the City."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"what_counts":{"label":"What counts as fireworks","value":"\"Fireworks\" means all fireworks classified Class 7 under the federal Explosives Regulation. It does not include sparklers, Christmas crackers, caps for toy guns, certain model rocket engines, or highway flares and small distress signals.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7049.pdf","title":"Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["means all of those fireworks classified as \"Class 7\" in the Explosives","Regulation (Canada), C.R.C., c.599","but does not include sparklers, Christmas crackers,"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"Apply to the Fire Chief at least 14 days before the event. Fee $100 per event (plus $100 per site inspection). Needs a valid Fireworks Supervisor's Certificate, $2,000,000 public liability insurance, a $1,000 security deposit, a fire safety plan and property owner permission. The Fire Chief may discount the fee 90% for City-sponsored events and certain not-for-profit events.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7049.pdf","title":"Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049 (PDF)","section":"ss. 13-14, Schedule B","quotes":["Every application for a Fireworks Permit shall be made to the Fire Chief at least 14 days","in the amount of $1,000, to be used for the purposes of paying any costs and expenses incurred","not less than two million dollars","(d) proof of a valid Fireworks Supervisor’s Certificate;","Fireworks permit 7 $100.00 per event","Site inspection 12 $100.00 per inspection","Permit Fee may be discounted by the Fire Chief by ninety percent (90%)"]},{"url":"https://www.nanaimo.ca/public-safety/fire-rescue/fireworks-permits---info","title":"Fireworks Permits and Info, City of Nanaimo","section":"web page","quotes":["A fireworks permit must be obtained at the discretion of the Fire Chief or their delegates in order to discharge any fireworks"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"$200 (early $150, late $250) for selling, possessing without a permit, or discharging without a permit. $100 (early $75, late $125) for not following the permit, not supervising, or failing to present the permit.","short":"$200 ($150 early) for no permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7159.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159 (PDF), Schedule A","section":"Schedule A, Fireworks Regulation Bylaw","quotes":["4 Sell fireworks 200.00 150.00 250.00","5 Possess without permit 200.00 150.00 250.00","6 Discharge fireworks without permit 200.00 150.00 250.00","8(b) Not in accordance with permit 100.00 75.00 125.00"]},{"url":"https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7049.pdf","title":"Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049 (PDF)","section":"Schedule B","quotes":["Selling fireworks 4 $200.00","Not in accordance with permit 8 (b) $100.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7049.pdf","title":"Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049 (PDF)","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited as the \"FIREWORKS REGULATION BYLAW 2007 No. 7049\""]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7049.pdf) bars anyone from lighting or discharging fireworks in Nanaimo without a valid permit issued by the Fire Chief. Possession without a permit is also prohibited, and no one may offer for sale, sell, give or trade fireworks in the City. \"Fireworks\" means those classified Class 7 under the federal Explosives Regulation. It does not include sparklers, Christmas crackers, caps for toy guns, certain model rocket engines, or highway flares and small distress signals.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Apply to the Fire Chief at least 14 days before the event.\n2. Have a valid Fireworks Supervisor's Certificate, $2,000,000 public liability insurance, a fire safety plan and the property owner's permission.\n3. Pay the $100 permit fee and the $1,000 security deposit. A site inspection is a further $100.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The Fire Chief may discount the fee 90% for City-sponsored events and certain not-for-profit events.\n- If Fire Rescue attendance is required, it is charged at $250 per hour for equipment and $65 per hour per person, plus 10%.\n- Tickets: $200 ($150 early, $250 late) for selling, possessing or discharging without a permit. $100 ($75 early, $125 late) for not following the permit, not supervising, or failing to present the permit.\n- The maximum court fine is $10,000.\n- Sky lanterns are prohibited under the City's outdoor burning quick guide.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.nanaimo.ca/public-safety/fire-rescue/fireworks-permits---info","title":"Fireworks Permits and Info, City of Nanaimo","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7049.pdf","title":"Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7159.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159 (PDF), Schedule A","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/fireworks/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/fireworks.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/fireworks.json"}}