GovHandbook

Saanich fireworks rules

Are fireworks allowed in Saanich?

Saanich, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

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.

Key facts

Setting off fireworksOnly 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.Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, 2007, No. 8865, s. 2; Fireworks Bylaw, Fireworks Bylaw page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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;
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.
Selling fireworksNo. Nobody may sell fireworks in Saanich, and the District says you may not buy or sell them here.Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, 2007, No. 8865, s. 2; Fireworks Bylaw, Fireworks Bylaw page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
No person may sell fireworks.
You may not buy or sell fireworks in Saanich.
What counts as fireworksFireworks 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.Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, 2007, No. 8865, ss. 1, 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
PermitAnyone 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).Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, 2007, No. 8865, ss. 3.1, Schedule F; Fireworks Bylaw, Fireworks Bylaw page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
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
FineMunicipal 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.Ticket Bylaw, 2010, No. 9029, Schedule 11; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 9525, Schedule 11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
Sale of Fireworks
Possess fireworks without a
$300.00
Discharging fireworks outside
$150.00
BylawFireworks Regulation Bylaw, 2007, No. 8865Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, 2007, No. 8865, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF SAANICH BYLAW NO. 8865 TO REGULATE THE POSSESSION OF FIREWORKS

How it works

The Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, 2007, No. 8865 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 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

The same question in other places

Oak Bay · Esquimalt · Victoria · View Royal · Central Saanich · Colwood

Fireworks rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Fireworks Bylaw, District of Saanich (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, 2007, No. 8865 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Halloween Bonfires and Fireworks, District of Saanich (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 9525 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
  5. 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. How answers are checked.