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

# Powell River fireworks rules

**Question:** Are fireworks allowed?

**Short answer:** In Powell River, anyone over 18 may set off low-hazard fireworks on private property with the owner's consent, only between 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on October 31. Firecrackers are banned. Other displays need a Special Use Fireworks Permit from the Fire Chief. Confirm the current bylaw with the City.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Powell River, https://powellriver.ca)  
**Where:**
- Phone: Fire Hall administration, 604-485-4431

## Key facts

- **Setting off fireworks:** Anyone over 18 may set off low-hazard fireworks only between 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on October 31 each year, safely, on private property with the owner's consent. On a highway, street, park, playground, school ground or other public place a permit is required. Firecrackers cannot be exploded or possessed at all. No one under 18 may possess fireworks. Fireworks may not be aimed at any person, animal, building, vehicle, tree or bush.
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2359, 2013, ss. 12-16](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/562)
  - Official wording: "Any person over 18 may set off or explode low-hazard fireworks between the hours of" … "4:00 pm and 11:00 pm on October 31 of each year provided that the fireworks are set off" … "No person shall explode, discharge or possess a firecracker within the City." … "without first obtaining a" … "No person under the age of 18 shall possess any fireworks within the City."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Selling fireworks:** Only low-hazard fireworks may be sold, only to people over 18, only by a holder of a City business licence, and only between October 24 and October 31 each year. Selling firecrackers or high-hazard fireworks is banned. Selling any fireworks to someone under 18 (or who appears under 18) is banned.
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2359, 2013, ss. 3-5](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/562)
  - Official wording: "No person shall sell or dispose of firecrackers or high-hazard fireworks within the City." … "by obtaining and holding a valid and subsisting business licence under Business" … "during the period October 24 and October 31 of each year;" … "to a person over eighteen years of age;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What counts as fireworks:** "Low-hazard" fireworks are those the federal regulations classify that way, such as fireworks showers, fountains, golden rain, lawn lights, pin wheels, Roman candles and volcanoes; sparklers, Christmas crackers and caps for toy guns are excluded. "High-hazard" fireworks include rockets, shells, large wheels, barrages, batteries and firecrackers. A firecracker is a small paper cylinder with entwined fuses that makes a bang.
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2359, 2013, s. 2](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/562)
  - Official wording: "and includes, but is not limited to, fireworks showers," … "but excludes sparklers, Christmas" … "crackers, and caps for toy guns;" … "“firecracker” means a small paper cylinder with entwined fuses, used solely as noise" … "includes, but is not limited to, rockets, serpents, shells, bomb shells"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit:** A person or organization wanting to set off fireworks for a special event, festival or theatrical performance must apply in writing to the Fire Chief for a Special Use Fireworks Permit at least 14 days before the event. Conditions include the property owner's written consent, third-party liability insurance naming the City, and a certified Fireworks Supervisor.
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2359, 2013, ss. 6-8](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/562)
  - Official wording: "wishing to possess and explode fireworks to observe or" … "celebrate a special event, festival, or theatrical performance must, at least fourteen days" … "the sponsor of the fireworks display must appoint a Fireworks Supervisor"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket (the bylaw's own Schedule B): $300 for selling to someone under 18, selling firecrackers or high-hazard fireworks, unlawful sale of low-hazard fireworks, unlawful possession, firecrackers, no special use permit, fireworks in a public place without a permit, and low-hazard fireworks outside the permitted time. Bylaw notice amounts differ by offence, for example $100 outside the permitted time (s. 16), $200 for a firecracker or fireworks in a public place without a permit (ss. 13, 14), $250 for selling to someone under 18 and $300 for selling firecrackers or high-hazard fireworks.
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2359, 2013, Sch. B](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/562)
  - Official wording: "Explosion of low hazard fireworks outside of permitted time 16 $300.00" … "Unlawful explosion of fireworks in a public place 14 $300.00"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2818, 2026, App. 7](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/159841)
  - Official wording: "3 Selling or disposing of fireworks $250 $30 $30" … "4 Selling/disposing of firecrackers $300 $40 $40" … "16 Exploding low hazard fireworks $100 $20 $20" … "14 Discharging or exploding $200 $40 $40"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2359, 2013
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2359, 2013, s. 1](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/562)
  - Official wording: "Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2359, 2013"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2359](<https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/562>), anyone over 18 may set off low-hazard fireworks only between 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on October 31 each year, safely, on private property with the owner's consent. The bylaw gives no other date for private use. The text we read is the 2013 version, and the City lists an October 2026 update, so confirm the current rules with the City.

## Steps

1. Use only low-hazard fireworks: fountains, Roman candles, volcanoes, pin wheels and similar. Sparklers, Christmas crackers and caps for toy guns are excluded from the definition.
2. On a street, park, playground, school ground or other public place, you need a permit.
3. For a special event, festival or theatrical performance, apply in writing to the Fire Chief for a Special Use Fireworks Permit at least 14 days before. Conditions include the property owner's written consent, third-party liability insurance naming the City, and a certified Fireworks Supervisor. No permit fee is stated in the bylaw.

## Good to know

- Firecrackers cannot be exploded or possessed at all. "High-hazard" fireworks include rockets, shells, large wheels, barrages and batteries.
- No one under 18 may possess fireworks. Do not aim fireworks at any person, animal, building, vehicle, tree or bush.
- The property owner pays the City's firefighting costs if fireworks cause a fire.
- Sale: only low-hazard fireworks, only to people over 18, only by a holder of a City business licence, and only between October 24 and October 31.
- A municipal ticket under the bylaw's own schedule is $300 for most offences, including low-hazard fireworks outside the permitted time and firing in a public place without a permit.
- Bylaw notice amounts differ by offence: $100 for firing outside the permitted time, $200 for a firecracker or fireworks in a public place without a permit, $250 for selling to someone under 18 and $300 for selling firecrackers or high-hazard fireworks. Discounts and surcharges vary by offence.
- Check for fire bans or area restrictions before you light anything. See the backyard fire answer.

## Official forms and pages

- [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2359, 2013 (PDF, includes the permit form)](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/562)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fireworks rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fireworks.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/fireworks.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/fireworks.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/fireworks.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/fireworks.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/fireworks.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/fireworks.md)

## Sources

- [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 2359, 2013](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/562) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2818, 2026](https://powellriver.civicweb.net/document/159841) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Departments Overview, City of Powell River](https://powellriver.ca/pages/departments-overview) (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 Powell River. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/fireworks/_