Nanaimo fireworks rules
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.
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.Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049, ss. 5-6; Fireworks Permits and Info, web page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall explode, light, activate, fire or discharge Fireworks within the boundaries unless that person holds a valid Fireworks Permit issued under this bylaw. Without a Fireworks permit, fireworks are NOT permitted within the City of Nanaimo. |
|---|---|
| Selling fireworks | No. No one may offer for sale, sell, give or trade fireworks within the City.Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049, s. 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall offer for sale, sell, give, or trade Fireworks within the boundaries of the City. |
| 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.Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049, Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingmeans 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, |
| 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.Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049, ss. 13-14, Schedule B; Fireworks Permits and Info, web page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingEvery 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%) A fireworks permit must be obtained at the discretion of the Fire Chief or their delegates in order to discharge any fireworks |
| 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159, Schedule A, Schedule A, Fireworks Regulation Bylaw; Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049, Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording4 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 Selling fireworks 4 $200.00 Not in accordance with permit 8 (b) $100.00 |
| Bylaw | Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049.Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited as the "FIREWORKS REGULATION BYLAW 2007 No. 7049" |
How it works
The Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049 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
- Apply to the Fire Chief at least 14 days before the event.
- Have a valid Fireworks Supervisor's Certificate, $2,000,000 public liability insurance, a fire safety plan and the property owner's permission.
- 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
The same question in other places
Lantzville · Ladysmith · Parksville · Sechelt · Qualicum Beach · Lake Cowichan
Sources
- Fireworks Permits and Info, City of Nanaimo (read 2026-11-05)
- Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2007 No. 7049 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159 (PDF), Schedule A (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.