{"title":"New Westminster fireworks rules","question":"Are fireworks allowed in New Westminster?","slug":"fireworks","place":{"path":"ca/bc/new-westminster","name":"New Westminster","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 New Westminster","url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca"},"short_answer":"In New Westminster, low hazard fireworks may be set off only from 4 p.m. on October 31 to 12:01 a.m. on November 1, and not by anyone under 18. Selling them in the City is banned. High hazard fireworks need a Special Permit.","aliases":["halloween fireworks new westminster","fireworks bylaw new westminster","can i set off fireworks new westminster","fireworks permit new westminster"],"cost":"Special Permit for high hazard fireworks: $211. Bylaw notice: $300 for discharging without a permit; $200 for selling, possessing without a permit or using without the owner's consent. Municipal ticket: $1,000.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"New Westminster Fire and Rescue Services","value":"604-519-1000"},{"type":"email","label":"Fire Prevention Division","value":"fire@newwestcity.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Police non-emergency","value":"604-525-5411"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Fireworks Safety bulletin (PDF)","url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Firework_Safety_NEW.pdf"},{"title":"Fire Protection Bylaw 6940, 2004 (PDF)","url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_6940__2004_Fire_Protection__2025_09_29_consolidation_.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"backyard-fire","title":"New Westminster backyard fire and burning rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/backyard-fire/"},{"slug":"noise-rules","title":"New Westminster noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/noise-rules/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"New Westminster bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/burnaby","name":"Burnaby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/fireworks/"},{"place":"ca/bc/coquitlam","name":"Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/fireworks/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-coquitlam","name":"Port Coquitlam","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/fireworks/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-moody","name":"Port Moody","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/fireworks/"},{"place":"ca/bc/surrey","name":"Surrey","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/fireworks/"},{"place":"ca/bc/richmond","name":"Richmond","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/fireworks/"}],"topic":{"title":"Fireworks rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fireworks/"},"facts":{"use":{"label":"Setting off fireworks","value":"Low hazard fireworks may be possessed only from October 28 to the morning of November 1 and set off only from 4 p.m. October 31 to 12:01 a.m. November 1. Not by anyone under 18. Only on private property with the owner's consent, or on public property with the written permission of the Director of Fire and Rescue Services. No roman candles. High hazard fireworks need a Special Permit.","short":"From 4 p.m. Oct 31 to 12:01 a.m. Nov 1","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_6940__2004_Fire_Protection__2025_09_29_consolidation_.pdf","title":"Fire Protection Bylaw 6940, 2004 (consolidated September 29, 2025), section 26 (PDF)","section":"s. 26.1","quotes":["Low Hazard Fireworks may be possessed only within that time","commencing at 4:00 pm on the 31st of October and ending at 12:01 a.m. on the","No person under the age of 18 years may possess or set off Low","No person shall use, set off or discharge roman candles."]},{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_6940__2004_Fire_Protection__2025_09_29_consolidation_.pdf","title":"Fire Protection Bylaw 6940, 2004 (consolidated September 29, 2025), section 26 (PDF)","section":"s. 26.1.3","quotes":["Low Hazard Fireworks shall be set off only on private property with","the written permission of the Director of Fire"]},{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Firework_Safety_NEW.pdf","title":"Firework Safety, New Westminster Fire Prevention Division (October 15, 2024) (PDF)","section":"bulletin","quotes":["Fireworks can be set off on private property, by an adult, with"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"sale":{"label":"Selling fireworks","value":"No. No one may sell or offer for sale low hazard fireworks anywhere in the City. High hazard fireworks may be sold only to a person with a valid Special Permit.","short":"No, except high hazard with Special Permit","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_6940__2004_Fire_Protection__2025_09_29_consolidation_.pdf","title":"Fire Protection Bylaw 6940, 2004 (consolidated September 29, 2025), section 26 (PDF)","section":"s. 26.1, 26.4","quotes":["No person shall, at any time, offer for sale or sell Low Hazard Fireworks","other than a person presenting a valid Special Permit issued"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"what_counts":{"label":"What counts as fireworks","value":"Fireworks include cannon crackers, fireballs, firecrackers, mines, roman candles, sky rockets, squibs and torpedoes. Caps for toys, Christmas crackers, sparklers and model rocket engines are excluded. Low hazard (fountains, pin wheels, volcanoes, etc.) and high hazard (rockets, shells, batteries, etc.) follow the federal Explosives Regulations.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_6940__2004_Fire_Protection__2025_09_29_consolidation_.pdf","title":"Fire Protection Bylaw 6940, 2004 (consolidated September 29, 2025), section 26 (PDF)","section":"s. 2 Definitions","quotes":["“fireworks” includes cannon crackers, fireballs, firecrackers, mines, Roman candles,","but does not include caps for toy products, Christmas crackers,","includes firework showers, fountains, golden","includes rockets, serpents, shells,"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"permit":{"label":"Permit","value":"High hazard fireworks (or fireworks for film or other special effects) need a Special Permit from the Director of Fire and Rescue Services. The applicant must supervise the display and hold a valid Fireworks Supervisor Card. Permit fee for use of high hazard fireworks: $211.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_6940__2004_Fire_Protection__2025_09_29_consolidation_.pdf","title":"Fire Protection Bylaw 6940, 2004 (consolidated September 29, 2025), section 26 (PDF)","section":"s. 26.2-26.3","quotes":["unless that person has first obtained a valid Special Permit from the","must also possess a valid Fireworks Supervisor Card issued by the Explosives"]},{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_6940__2004_Fire_Protection__2025_09_29_consolidation_.pdf","title":"Fire Protection Bylaw 6940, 2004 (consolidated September 29, 2025), section 26 (PDF)","section":"Sch. A","quotes":["26 Permit for Use of High Hazard Fireworks $211.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: discharging fireworks without a permit $300 ($250 if paid within 14 days; $325 late); selling, possessing without a permit, or using without the owner's consent $200 ($150; $225). Municipal ticket information: $1,000 each.","short":"Notice $300 ($250 if paid in 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_7318__2009_Bylaw_Notice_Enforcement__2026_07_29_consolidation_.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7318, 2009 (consolidated July 29, 2026) (PDF)","section":"Sch. A Part 9","quotes":["Discharge of fireworks 300.00 250.00 325.00 NO without permit","Unlawful sale of fireworks 200.00 150.00 225.00","Possession of all 200.00 150.00 225.00 NO fireworks without permit","Use fireworks without 200.00 150.00 225.00 NO consent of property owner","Discharge of fireworks 300.00 250.00 325.00 NO"]},{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8077__2019_Municipal_Ticket_Information__2026_07_29_consolidation_(1).pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 8077, 2019 (consolidated July 29, 2026) (PDF)","section":"Sch. B Part 9","quotes":["Discharge of fireworks without permit 1,000.00","Unlawful sale of fireworks 1,000.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Fire Protection Bylaw No. 6940, 2004 (section 26)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_6940__2004_Fire_Protection__2025_09_29_consolidation_.pdf","title":"Fire Protection Bylaw 6940, 2004 (consolidated September 29, 2025), section 26 (PDF)","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as \"Fire Protection Bylaw No.6940, 2004.”"]}],"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\nSection 26 of the [Fire Protection Bylaw 6940](https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_6940__2004_Fire_Protection__2025_09_29_consolidation_.pdf) allows only low hazard fireworks (fountains, pin wheels, volcanoes and similar), and only around Halloween. Nobody may sell or offer for sale low hazard fireworks anywhere in the City. High hazard fireworks (rockets, shells, batteries and similar) may be sold only to a person with a valid Special Permit. The bylaw follows the federal Explosives Regulations for the low and high hazard classes. Caps for toys, Christmas crackers, sparklers and model rocket engines are not counted as fireworks.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Be 18 or older. Under-18s may not possess or set off fireworks.\n2. Possess low hazard fireworks only from October 28 to the morning of November 1.\n3. Set them off only from 4 p.m. on October 31 to 12:01 a.m. on November 1.\n4. Use private property with the owner's consent, or public property with the written permission of the Director of Fire and Rescue Services.\n5. For high hazard fireworks, or fireworks for film or other special effects, get a Special Permit from the Director of Fire and Rescue Services (fee $211). The applicant must supervise the display and hold a valid Fireworks Supervisor Card.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Roman candles are banned. Never point a firework at a person, animal, building or vehicle.\n- The City's October 15, 2024 bulletin gives slightly different dates (possession October 28 to 31, setting off in the late afternoon and evening of October 31). The bylaw is the rule; confirm with Fire and Rescue Services at 604-519-1000.\n- Bylaw notice: $300 for discharging fireworks without a permit ($250 if paid within 14 days); $200 for selling, possessing without a permit, or using without the owner's consent ($150 if paid within 14 days). A municipal ticket is $1,000 for each.\n- Call 9-1-1 for a fire or injury.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_6940__2004_Fire_Protection__2025_09_29_consolidation_.pdf","title":"Fire Protection Bylaw 6940, 2004 (consolidated September 29, 2025), section 26 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Firework_Safety_NEW.pdf","title":"Firework Safety, New Westminster Fire Prevention Division (October 15, 2024) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_7318__2009_Bylaw_Notice_Enforcement__2026_07_29_consolidation_.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7318, 2009 (consolidated July 29, 2026) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.newwestcity.ca/database/files/library/Consolidated_Bylaw_8077__2019_Municipal_Ticket_Information__2026_07_29_consolidation_(1).pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 8077, 2019 (consolidated July 29, 2026) (PDF)","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/new-westminster/fireworks/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/fireworks.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/fireworks.json"}}