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

# North Saanich fireworks rules

**Question:** Are fireworks allowed in North Saanich?

**Short answer:** Only with a permit. North Saanich's Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 1148 bans storing, possessing or setting off fireworks without a Fireworks Permit from the Fire Chief, and bans firecrackers outright. A permit can be issued only for 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on October 31, or for a Fireworks Event.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of North Saanich, https://www.northsaanich.ca)  
**Cost:** Permit fee $10 for family fireworks, $75 for display fireworks (Schedule E of the bylaw).  
**How long:** Apply at least 14 days before the event.  
**Where:**
- Phone: North Saanich Fire Department, 250-656-1931
- Email: North Saanich Fire Department, firedepartment@northsaanich.ca

## Key facts

- **Setting off fireworks:** Only with a Fireworks Permit from the Fire Chief; without one it is an offence to store, hold, possess, fire, set off or explode fireworks. Applicants must be 18 or older and apply at least 14 days before. A permit can only be issued for 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on October 31, or for a Fireworks Event. Permits are not granted within 200 m of designated Environmentally Sensitive Areas, and fireworks near Victoria Airport need NAV CANADA coordination. Firecrackers are banned outright.
  - Source: [North Saanich Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 1148 (2007), ss. 3.2, 3.7, 5.1, 5.3](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1148-North-Saanich-Fireworks-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-1148-2007.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person may store, hold, possess, fire, set-off or explode Fireworks without a Fireworks Permit." … "No person may store, hold, possess, fire, set-off or explode Firecrackers." … "Any person eighteen (18) years of age or older may apply for a Fireworks Permit to fire, set off or explode Family Fireworks or Display Fireworks" … "at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date upon which the Fireworks Event is to occur:" … "between the hours of 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM on October 31st each year"
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, Amendment Bylaw No. 1571 (2025)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/North-Saanich-Fireworks-Bylaw-No.-1148-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-1571.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person may store, hold, possess, fire, set-off, explode, or otherwise use Fireworks within 200 metres (Buffer Zone) of a designated Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA)." … "No person may fire, set off, explode or otherwise use Fireworks in proximity of YYJ (Victoria International Airport)"
  - Source: [Fireworks, Fireworks page](https://www.northsaanich.ca/resident-services/fire-hall/fireworks)
  - Official wording: "All family fireworks displays require a permit issued by the District. Permits will only be approved for use in specific permitted locations and under safe conditions."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Selling fireworks:** No. The bylaw prohibits selling, offering to sell, trading or otherwise disposing of fireworks, entertainment industry pyrotechnics or firecrackers to any other person.
  - Source: [North Saanich Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 1148 (2007), s. 3.1](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1148-North-Saanich-Fireworks-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-1148-2007.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person may sell, offer to sell, trade or otherwise dispose of Fireworks, Entertainment Industry Pyrotechnics or Firecrackers to any other person."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What counts as fireworks:** 'Fireworks' means Family Fireworks (low hazard fireworks generally used for recreation, excluding Christmas crackers, sparklers and caps for toy guns) and Display Fireworks (high hazard fireworks used for public displays). Firecrackers (small paper cylinders charged with explosive used as noisemakers) are banned outright. Entertainment industry pyrotechnics need their own permit.
  - Source: [North Saanich Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 1148 (2007), s. 2 definitions; s. 3.7](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1148-North-Saanich-Fireworks-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-1148-2007.pdf)
  - Official wording: "“Fireworks” means Display Fireworks and Family Fireworks;" … "excluding Christmas crackers, sparklers and caps for toy guns;" … "“Firecrackers” means a small paper cylinder charged with an explosive used as a noisemaker;" … "No person may store, hold, possess, fire, set-off or explode Firecrackers." … "“Display Fireworks” means high hazard fireworks defined in Class 7, Division 2,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit:** Anyone 18 or older may apply to the Fire Chief at least 14 days before the event with the application form, a written agreement from the property owner if the land is not theirs or is District land, and the fee: $10 for family fireworks, $75 for display fireworks (display fireworks also need a Fireworks Supervisor certification card and insurance). The Chief issues a permit if the property is available and there is no public safety risk. No permits are granted within the ESA buffer zones.
  - Source: [North Saanich Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 1148 (2007), ss. 5.1, 5.2, Schedule E](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1148-North-Saanich-Fireworks-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-1148-2007.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Family Fireworks Permit $10.00" … "Display Fireworks Permit $75.00" … "the Fire Chief considers the Fireworks Event will not create a public safety risk or risk to public or private property;" … "In the case of Display Fireworks, proof acceptable to the Fire Chief that the applicant is a Certification Card holder;"
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, Amendment Bylaw No. 1571 (2025), Schedule A-1](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/North-Saanich-Fireworks-Bylaw-No.-1148-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-1571.pdf)
  - Official wording: "NO permits granted within ESA Buffer Zones"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket (MTI Bylaw 1544, Schedule 12, which still cites the repealed Bylaw 925): firing fireworks without a permit $195 ($150 if paid within 30 days); firecrackers $130 ($100); selling or giving fireworks $195 ($150). These 2022 amounts may be out of date.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1544 (Schedule 12)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-No.-1544.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fire/Setoff Fireworks Without Permit 7(8) $195.00 $150.00" … "Setoff/Discharge Firecrackers 7(4) $130.00 $100.00" … "Sell/Give Fireworks Without Permit 5(1) $195.00 $150.00"
  - Source: [North Saanich Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 1148 (2007), s. 11.3](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1148-North-Saanich-Fireworks-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-1148-2007.pdf)
  - Official wording: "liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than $100.00 and not more than $10,000.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** North Saanich Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 1148 (2007), amended by Amendment Bylaw No. 1571 (2025)
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, Amendment Bylaw No. 1571 (2025), Amendment Bylaw 1571, ss. 1 and 2](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/North-Saanich-Fireworks-Bylaw-No.-1148-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-1571.pdf)
  - Official wording: "North Saanich Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 1148 (2007)" … "North Saanich Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 1148, Amendment Bylaw No. 1571 (2025)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 1148](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1148-North-Saanich-Fireworks-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-1148-2007.pdf), amended in 2025 by Amendment Bylaw No. 1571, it is an offence to store, hold, possess, fire, set off or explode fireworks without a Fireworks Permit from the Fire Chief. "Fireworks" means family fireworks (low-hazard, for recreation; sparklers are excluded) and display fireworks (high-hazard, for public displays). Firecrackers are banned outright. Selling, offering to sell or trading fireworks, entertainment industry pyrotechnics or firecrackers is prohibited.

## Steps

1. Be 18 or older. Apply to the Fire Chief at least 14 days before the event.
2. Submit the application form, the written agreement of the property owner if the land is not yours or is District land, and the fee: $10 for family fireworks or $75 for display fireworks. Display fireworks also need a Fireworks Supervisor certification card and insurance.
3. The Chief issues a permit if the property is available and there is no public safety risk. A permit can be issued only for 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on October 31, or for a Fireworks Event.

## Good to know

- No permits are granted within 200 metres of designated Environmentally Sensitive Areas: Chalet Creek, Tsehum (Shoal) Harbour, Roberts Bay, Tseycum Creek, Ten-Ten Creek, Coals Bay and KELSET (Reay Creek).
- Fireworks near Victoria Airport need coordination with NAV CANADA.
- Municipal tickets: firing fireworks without a permit $195 ($150 if paid within 30 days); firecrackers $130 ($100); selling or giving fireworks $195 ($150). These are 2022 amounts and may have changed under 2026 ticket bylaws we could not read.
- The ticket schedule still cites an older, repealed fireworks bylaw, so confirm the offence wording with the District.

## What you'll need

- Completed fireworks permit application form, applicant 18 or older
- Written agreement from the property owner if the land is not yours or is District land

## Official forms and pages

- [Fireworks page (permit application and bylaw changes)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/resident-services/fire-hall/fireworks)
- [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 1148 (PDF)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1148-North-Saanich-Fireworks-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-1148-2007.pdf)
- [Amendment Bylaw No. 1571 (2025) with updated application forms (PDF)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/North-Saanich-Fireworks-Bylaw-No.-1148-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-1571.pdf)

## Related questions

- [North Saanich backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/backyard-fire.md)
- [North Saanich noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/noise-rules.md)
- [North Saanich bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fireworks rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fireworks.md)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/fireworks.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/fireworks.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/fireworks.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/fireworks.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/fireworks.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/fireworks.md)

## Sources

- [Fireworks, District of North Saanich](https://www.northsaanich.ca/resident-services/fire-hall/fireworks) (read 2026-11-05)
- [North Saanich Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 1148 (2007) (PDF)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/1148-North-Saanich-Fireworks-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-1148-2007.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, Amendment Bylaw No. 1571 (2025) (PDF)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/North-Saanich-Fireworks-Bylaw-No.-1148-Amendment-Bylaw-No.-1571.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1544 (Schedule 12) (PDF)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-No.-1544.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 District of North Saanich. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/fireworks/_