---
title: Saanich fireworks rules
question: "Are fireworks allowed in Saanich?"
place: Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/saanich
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Saanich
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/fireworks/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/fireworks.json"
---

# Saanich fireworks rules

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

**Short answer:** Only in limited cases. In Saanich, people 18 or older with a permit may set off consumer fireworks on October 31, between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. They are banned in parks, on beaches, on highways and on school property, and nobody may sell fireworks in Saanich. Using them without a permit is a $300 ticket.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Saanich, https://www.saanich.ca)  
**Cost:** Permit: consumer fireworks $10; display $75. Pyrotechnic special-effects: $150 safety-plan review plus $480 an hour for fire protection (minimum four hours). Fines: using or possessing without a permit is $300 (bylaw notice, or municipal ticket within 30 days; $350 after).  
**How long:** Apply by noon on October 31 per the bylaw; the Halloween page says October 30.  
**Where:**
- Online: Fireworks Bylaw page (permit information), https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/fire-prevention-safety/regulations-bylaws/fireworks-bylaw.html
- Online: Apply to the Saanich Fire Department, fireprevention@saanich.ca
- Phone: Saanich Fire Department non-emergency, 250-475-6111

## Key facts

- **Setting off fireworks:** Only people 18 or older with a permit. Consumer fireworks may be set off only on October 31, between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. (or other times named in a permit). Never on a highway, in a park, on school property, on a beach, or on commercial or industrial land. No fireworks pointed at people, animals, buildings, vehicles, trees or bushes.
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, 2007, No. 8865, s. 2](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/fireworks-regulation-bylaw-2007-no-8865.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person may discharge consumer fireworks except on October 31st of each year" … "No person under the age of eighteen (18) years may hold, possess" … "a highway;" … "a park;" … "a property on which a school is located;"
  - Source: [Fireworks Bylaw, Fireworks Bylaw page](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/fire-prevention-safety/regulations-bylaws/fireworks-bylaw.html)
  - Official wording: "You can set off fireworks on October 31 only, between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m." … "You need a fireworks permit to possess or discharge fireworks in Saanich."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Selling fireworks:** No. Nobody may sell fireworks in Saanich, and the District says you may not buy or sell them here.
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, 2007, No. 8865, s. 2](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/fireworks-regulation-bylaw-2007-no-8865.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person may sell fireworks."
  - Source: [Fireworks Bylaw, Fireworks Bylaw page](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/fire-prevention-safety/regulations-bylaws/fireworks-bylaw.html)
  - Official wording: "You may not buy or sell fireworks in Saanich."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What counts as fireworks:** Fireworks means consumer fireworks (fountains, Roman candles, wheels, volcanoes), display fireworks and pyrotechnic special-effects fireworks. Sparklers, Christmas crackers and caps for toy guns are not counted as consumer fireworks. Firecrackers and listed prohibited fireworks (cherry bombs, M-80s, smoke bombs and similar) are banned outright.
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, 2007, No. 8865, ss. 1, 2](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/fireworks-regulation-bylaw-2007-no-8865.pdf)
  - Official wording: "but does not include Christmas crackers, sparklers, and caps for toy guns" … "No person may buy, sell, hold, possess, store, discharge, or otherwise use" … "firecrackers." … "Prohibited Firework"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit:** Anyone 18 or older may apply to the Saanich Fire Department (fireprevention@saanich.ca). Bylaw: proof of training and a Certification Card; Saanich page: Saanich safety course and exam within three years. Consumer fireworks permit $10; display $75. Deadline: bylaw says noon October 31; Saanich page says noon October 30. (Sources differ: Deadline: the bylaw says applications for Halloween fireworks must be in by 12:00 p.m. on October 31 (or the last business day before). The Fireworks Bylaw page repeats that, but the Halloween Bonfires and Fireworks page says 12 p.m. on October 30; the bylaw is followed. Pyrotechnic special-effects permits: $150 safety-plan review plus $480/hour fire protection (min. four hours).)
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, 2007, No. 8865, ss. 3.1, Schedule F](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/fireworks-regulation-bylaw-2007-no-8865.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Any person eighteen (18) years of age or older before discharging consumer" … "Consumer Fireworks Permit $10.00" … "Display Fireworks Permit $75.00" … "evidence that the applicant is a Certification Card holder" … "no later than 12:00 p.m. on October 31st"
  - Source: [Fireworks Bylaw, Fireworks Bylaw page](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/fire-prevention-safety/regulations-bylaws/fireworks-bylaw.html)
  - Official wording: "We issue permits to those 18 years and older who successfully complete a Saanich Fire Department fireworks safety course within the last three years." … "fireprevention@saanich.ca"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket (30 days / after): selling $500/$550; possessing or using without a permit $300/$350; unsafe discharge $300/$350; discharging outside October 31 hours, on a highway or park, or pointing fireworks $150/$200. Bylaw notice: same base amounts, less $50 if paid within 14 days.
  - Source: [Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029, Schedule 11](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Sale of Fireworks 2.1 $500.00 $550.00" … "Possess fireworks without a permit 2.4 $300.00 $350.00" … "Discharging fireworks outside permitted period 2.5 $150.00 $200.00"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 9525, Schedule 11](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/bylawnoticeenforcementbylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Sale of Fireworks" … "Possess fireworks without a" … "$300.00" … "Discharging fireworks outside" … "$150.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, 2007, No. 8865
  - Source: [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, 2007, No. 8865, title](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/fireworks-regulation-bylaw-2007-no-8865.pdf)
  - Official wording: "THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF SAANICH BYLAW NO. 8865 TO REGULATE THE POSSESSION OF FIREWORKS"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, 2007, No. 8865](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/fireworks-regulation-bylaw-2007-no-8865.pdf) allows only people 18 or older with a permit to use fireworks. Consumer fireworks may be set off only on October 31, between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. (or other times named in a permit). Never on a highway, in a park, on school property, on a beach, or on commercial or industrial land, and never pointed at people, animals, buildings, vehicles, trees or bushes.

Nobody may sell fireworks in Saanich, and the District says you may not buy or sell them here.

"Fireworks" means consumer fireworks (fountains, Roman candles, wheels, volcanoes), display fireworks and pyrotechnic special-effects fireworks. Sparklers, Christmas crackers and caps for toy guns do not count as consumer fireworks. Firecrackers and prohibited fireworks (cherry bombs, M-80s, smoke bombs and similar) are banned outright.

## Steps

1. Apply to the Saanich Fire Department at fireprevention@saanich.ca. You must be 18 or older.
2. Show training. The bylaw asks for proof of training and a Certification Card; the Saanich page says a Saanich safety course and exam within three years.
3. Pay the permit fee: $10 for consumer fireworks, $75 for display.
4. Apply by noon on October 31 (or the last business day before), per the bylaw.

## Good to know

- The [Halloween Bonfires and Fireworks page](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/fire-prevention-safety/halloween-bonfires-and-fireworks.html) gives the deadline as noon on October 30. The bylaw is followed here; apply early.
- Fines, as a municipal ticket within 30 days / after: selling $500/$550; possessing or using without a permit, or unsafe discharge $300/$350; discharging outside October 31 hours, on a highway or in a park, or pointing fireworks $150/$200. A bylaw notice carries the same base amounts, less $50 if paid within 14 days.
- Court minimum fines are $500 for selling or breaching a pyrotechnics permit, $200 for permit or unsafe-discharge offences, and $100 for most others.

## Official forms and pages

- [Fireworks Bylaw, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/fire-prevention-safety/regulations-bylaws/fireworks-bylaw.html)
- [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, 2007, No. 8865 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/fireworks-regulation-bylaw-2007-no-8865.pdf)
- [Halloween Bonfires and Fireworks, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/fire-prevention-safety/halloween-bonfires-and-fireworks.html)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 9525 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/bylawnoticeenforcementbylaw.pdf)
- [Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fireworks rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fireworks.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/fireworks.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/fireworks.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/fireworks.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/fireworks.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/fireworks.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/fireworks.md)

## Sources

- [Fireworks Bylaw, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/fire-prevention-safety/regulations-bylaws/fireworks-bylaw.html) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, 2007, No. 8865 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/fireworks-regulation-bylaw-2007-no-8865.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Halloween Bonfires and Fireworks, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/fire-prevention-safety/halloween-bonfires-and-fireworks.html) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 9525 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/bylawnoticeenforcementbylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/ticket-bylaw-2010-no-9029.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Saanich. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/fireworks/_