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

# Sidney fireworks rules

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

**Short answer:** In Sidney you may not store, possess or set off fireworks without a Fireworks Permit from the Fire Chief. Permits are issued only for 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on October 31, or for a fireworks event on other dates. A Family Fireworks Permit is $10. Firecrackers are banned.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Sidney, https://www.sidney.ca)  
**Cost:** Family Fireworks Permit $10; Display Fireworks Permit $75. No permit: bylaw notice $260 ($200 within 14 days, $315 after 28 days); municipal ticket $260 ($200 within 30 days).  
**How long:** Apply at least 14 days before the event.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Sidney Fire Department, 250-656-2121
- Email: Sidney Fire Department, firedept@sidney.ca

## Key facts

- **Setting off fireworks:** Residents may not store, possess or set off fireworks without a Fireworks Permit. The Fire Chief only issues permits for 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on October 31, or for a Fireworks Event on other dates. No fireworks within 200 m of a designated Environmentally Sensitive Area. Firecrackers are banned.
  - Source: [Bylaw to Regulate Fireworks No. 1924, 2007, consolidated through Bylaw 2251, ss. 3.2, 3.5, 3.8, 5.3](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1924-Fireworks-CON.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person may store, hold, possess, fire, set-off or explode Fireworks without a Fireworks" … "within 200 meters (buffer zone) of a designated Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) as outlined" … "No person may store, hold, possess, fire, set-off or explode Firecrackers." … "between the hours of 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM on October 31st each year, or" … "during a Fireworks Event, other than October 31st of each year."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Selling fireworks:** No. No one may sell, offer to sell, trade or otherwise dispose of fireworks, entertainment industry pyrotechnics or firecrackers.
  - Source: [Bylaw to Regulate Fireworks No. 1924, 2007, consolidated through Bylaw 2251, s. 3.1](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1924-Fireworks-CON.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 recreational fireworks, excluding Christmas crackers, sparklers and caps for toy guns) and Display Fireworks (large public-display fireworks). Firecrackers are banned. Entertainment industry pyrotechnics need their own permit. Signal flares used by motorists, mariners or police are exempt.
  - Source: [Bylaw to Regulate Fireworks No. 1924, 2007, consolidated through Bylaw 2251, s. 2; s. 4.1](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1924-Fireworks-CON.pdf)
  - Official wording: "“Family Fireworks” means low hazard fireworks generally used for recreation but" … "excluding Christmas crackers, sparklers and caps for toy guns;" … "“Fireworks” means Display Fireworks and Family Fireworks;" … "“Firecrackers” means a small paper cylinder charged with an explosive used as a" … "This Bylaw does not prohibit or regulate the use of torpedoes, flares, fuzzes or similar"
  - 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. Family Fireworks Permit $10; Display Fireworks Permit $75 (proof of certification required). A property owner's written agreement is needed if the land is not the applicant's. Apply at the Fire Department (250-656-2121, firedept@sidney.ca).
  - Source: [Bylaw to Regulate Fireworks No. 1924, 2007, consolidated through Bylaw 2251, ss. 5.1, 5.2; Schedule E](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1924-Fireworks-CON.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Any person eighteen (18) years of age or older may apply for a Fireworks Permit to fire, set" … "fourteen (14) days prior to the date upon which the Fireworks Event is to occur:" … "Family Fireworks Permit $10.00" … "Display Fireworks Permit $75.00"
  - Source: [Fire Services, Fireworks Permit](https://www.sidney.ca/services/emergency-services/fire-services/)
  - Official wording: "Adults may apply for a Fireworks Permit for Family Fireworks or Display Fireworks by submitting an application to the Fire Chief for authorization." … "The $10.00 fee can be paid online, or through cash or cheque."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: no permit $260 ($200 within 14 days; $315 after 28); selling $500 (no early or late amount); firecrackers $130 ($100; $160). Municipal ticket: $260 ($200 within 30 days); selling $650 ($500); firecrackers $130 ($100). The Fireworks Bylaw's Schedule G still shows older, lower amounts. (Sources differ: Both ticket bylaws list these offences and the sale amount differs ($500 in the bylaw notice schedule; $650 in the municipal ticket schedule). The Fireworks bylaw's own Schedule G lists older amounts ($500 sale, $200 use without permit); the later ticket bylaws were used. The bylaw sets a court fine of $100 to $10,000 (s. 11.3).)
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2239, Schedule C, Fireworks Regulation Bylaw No. 1924, ss. 3/1, 3/2, 3/7](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2239-Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-CON.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Sale of 3/1 $500.00 N/A N/A" … "Possession of 3/2 $260.00 $200.00 $315.00" … "Possession of 3/7 $130.00 $100.00 $160.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2180, Schedule 6, ss. 3/1, 3/2](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2180-MTI-consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Pyrotechnics or 3/1 $650.00 $500.00" … "3/2 $260.00 $200.00"
  - Source: [Bylaw to Regulate Fireworks No. 1924, 2007, consolidated through Bylaw 2251, Schedule G](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1924-Fireworks-CON.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Use of Fireworks Without Permit 3.2 $200.00" … "Sale of Fireworks, Pyrotechnics or 3.1 $500.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Bylaw to Regulate Fireworks No. 1924, 2007
  - Source: [Bylaw to Regulate Fireworks No. 1924, 2007, consolidated through Bylaw 2251, s. 1](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1924-Fireworks-CON.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the “Bylaw to Regulate Fireworks No. 1924, 2007”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Fireworks Bylaw No. 1924](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1924-Fireworks-CON.pdf), residents may not store, possess or set off fireworks in Sidney without a Fireworks Permit. The Fire Chief only issues permits for 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on October 31, or for a fireworks event (a special event or festival) on other dates. No fireworks within 200 m of a designated Environmentally Sensitive Area. Firecrackers are banned.

## Steps

1. Be 18 or older. Apply to the Fire Chief at least 14 days before the event, at the Fire Department (250-656-2121, firedept@sidney.ca).
2. Pay the fee: Family Fireworks Permit $10; Display Fireworks Permit $75 (proof of certification required).
3. If the land is not yours, get the property owner's written agreement.
4. Follow the permit's conditions on days, hours and location.

## Good to know

- Nobody may sell, offer to sell or trade fireworks, entertainment industry pyrotechnics or firecrackers in Sidney.
- "Family Fireworks" means low-hazard recreational fireworks, excluding Christmas crackers, sparklers and caps for toy guns. Signal flares used by motorists, mariners or police are exempt.
- The Fire Chief may refuse a permit if the property is unavailable or the event is a safety risk.
- Fines, bylaw notice: no permit $260; selling $500 (no early or late amount); firecrackers $130 ($100 early, $160 late).
- Fines, municipal ticket: no permit $260 ($200 within 30 days); selling $650 ($500); firecrackers $130 ($100).
- The Fireworks Bylaw's own Schedule G still shows older, lower amounts. The ticket bylaw schedules are followed here; confirm the amount on your ticket.

## Official forms and pages

- [Fire Services (Fireworks Permit), Town of Sidney](https://www.sidney.ca/services/emergency-services/fire-services/)
- [Fireworks Bylaw No. 1924 (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1924-Fireworks-CON.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fireworks rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fireworks.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/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)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/fireworks.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/fireworks.md)

## Sources

- [Bylaw to Regulate Fireworks No. 1924, 2007 (PDF), consolidated through Bylaw 2251](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/1924-Fireworks-CON.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fire Services, Town of Sidney](https://www.sidney.ca/services/emergency-services/fire-services/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2239 (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2239-Bylaw-Notice-Enforcement-CON.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2180 (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2180-MTI-consolidated.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 Town of Sidney. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/fireworks/_