---
title: Nanaimo fireworks rules
question: "Are fireworks allowed?"
place: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/nanaimo
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Nanaimo
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/fireworks/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/fireworks.json"
---

# Nanaimo fireworks rules

**Question:** Are fireworks allowed?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Nanaimo, https://www.nanaimo.ca)  
**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:**
- Online: Fireworks Permits and Info, https://www.nanaimo.ca/public-safety/fire-rescue/fireworks-permits---info
- Phone: Nanaimo Fire Rescue, 250-753-7311 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Setting off fireworks:** 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.
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049, ss. 5-6](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7049.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Fireworks Permits and Info, web page](https://www.nanaimo.ca/public-safety/fire-rescue/fireworks-permits---info)
  - Official wording: "Without a Fireworks permit, fireworks are NOT permitted within the City of Nanaimo."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Selling fireworks:** No. No one may offer for sale, sell, give or trade fireworks within the City.
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049, s. 4](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7049.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall offer for sale, sell, give, or trade Fireworks within the boundaries of the City."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What counts as fireworks:** "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.
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049, Schedule A](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7049.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit:** 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.
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049, ss. 13-14, Schedule B](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7049.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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%)"
  - Source: [Fireworks Permits and Info, web page](https://www.nanaimo.ca/public-safety/fire-rescue/fireworks-permits---info)
  - Official wording: "A fireworks permit must be obtained at the discretion of the Fire Chief or their delegates in order to discharge any fireworks"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** $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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159, Schedule A, Schedule A, Fireworks Regulation Bylaw](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7159.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049, Schedule B](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7049.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Selling fireworks 4 $200.00" … "Not in accordance with permit 8 (b) $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049.
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049, s. 1](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7049.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as the "FIREWORKS REGULATION BYLAW 2007 No. 7049""
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [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.

## Steps

1. Apply to the Fire Chief at least 14 days before the event.
2. Have a valid Fireworks Supervisor's Certificate, $2,000,000 public liability insurance, a fire safety plan and the property owner's permission.
3. Pay the $100 permit fee and the $1,000 security deposit. A site inspection is a further $100.

## Good to know

- The Fire Chief may discount the fee 90% for City-sponsored events and certain not-for-profit events.
- If Fire Rescue attendance is required, it is charged at $250 per hour for equipment and $65 per hour per person, plus 10%.
- 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.
- The maximum court fine is $10,000.
- Sky lanterns are prohibited under the City's outdoor burning quick guide.

## What you'll need

- Valid Fireworks Supervisor's Certificate
- Public liability insurance of $2,000,000
- $1,000 security deposit
- Fire safety plan
- Property owner's permission

## Official forms and pages

- [Fireworks Permits and Info](https://www.nanaimo.ca/public-safety/fire-rescue/fireworks-permits---info)
- [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 7049 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7049.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Nanaimo backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/backyard-fire.md)
- [Nanaimo bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fireworks rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fireworks.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/fireworks.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/fireworks.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/fireworks.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/fireworks.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/fireworks.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/fireworks.md)

## Sources

- [Fireworks Permits and Info, City of Nanaimo](https://www.nanaimo.ca/public-safety/fire-rescue/fireworks-permits---info) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7049.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159 (PDF), Schedule A](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7159.pdf) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Nanaimo. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/fireworks/_