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

# Surrey fireworks rules

**Question:** Are fireworks allowed?

**Short answer:** Not for ordinary residents. Under Surrey's Fireworks Regulation By-law 4200, no one may set off fireworks in the City unless they are a certified Fireworks Supervisor holding a permit from the Fire Chief. Permits are for special events or festivals. No one under 18 may possess or set off fireworks.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Surrey, https://www.surrey.ca)  
**Cost:** $150 permit processing fee, paid before the application is reviewed.  
**How long:** The City asks for the application at least 5 business days before the event.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Surrey Fire Prevention, 604-543-6780
- Email: Surrey Fire Prevention, fireprevention@surrey.ca

## Key facts

- **Setting off fireworks:** No. No one may set off fireworks in the City unless they are a certified Fireworks Supervisor holding a permit from the Fire Chief. Permits are for special events or festivals. No one under 18 may possess or set off fireworks, and fireworks may not be exploded on a highway, street, park, playground, school ground or other public place except as a permit allows.
  - Source: [Surrey Fireworks Regulation By-law, 1974, No. 4200 (consolidated to Bylaw 21974, 2026), s. 3, 4, 5, 6](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_reg_4200.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall set off or explode any fireworks in the City unless the person is a" … "No person under the age of 18 shall possess any fireworks in the City of Surrey." … "no person shall explode any fireworks on" … "may apply in writing to the Fire Chief for a permit to possess and explode firecrackers or"
  - Source: [Fireworks & Pyrotechnics, Permits](https://www.surrey.ca/about-surrey/surrey-fire-services/fireworks-pyrotechnics)
  - Official wording: "The City of Surrey allows firework/pyrotechnics displays only if you have applied for and been granted the appropriate permit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Selling fireworks:** Only a certified Fireworks Supervisor who also holds a City business licence as a fireworks vendor may sell or give out fireworks. No one may sell or give fireworks to anyone under 18 or who appears to be under 18.
  - Source: [Surrey Fireworks Regulation By-law, 1974, No. 4200 (consolidated to Bylaw 21974, 2026), s. 3(1), (4), (6)](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_reg_4200.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall sell, dispose of, give or otherwise distribute fireworks to another" … "without first obtaining and holding a valid and subsisting business" … "who is under the age of eighteen years or to a person who appears to be" … "person unless the person is a Fireworks Supervisor." … "or description without first obtaining and holding a valid and subsisting business"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What counts as fireworks:** Fireworks means a substance made or used to produce an explosion or detonation, or a pyrotechnic device, including fireworks as defined in the federal Explosives Act and the BC Fireworks Act. Caps for toy guns are excluded.
  - Source: [Surrey Fireworks Regulation By-law, 1974, No. 4200 (consolidated to Bylaw 21974, 2026), s. 2, 3(3)](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_reg_4200.pdf)
  - Official wording: ""Fireworks" means a substance that is made, manufactured or used to produce an" … "explosion or detonation or a pyrotechnic device" … "does not include caps for toy guns."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit:** Apply in writing to the Fire Chief (Surrey Fire Prevention) for a special event or festival; processing fee $150, paid before review. The sponsor must show owner consent, liability insurance, and a certified Fireworks Supervisor. The City asks for the application at least 5 business days before the event, an NRCan Fireworks Operator card, and a liability certificate of at least $2,000,000.
  - Source: [Surrey Fireworks Regulation By-law, 1974, No. 4200 (consolidated to Bylaw 21974, 2026), s. 6](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_reg_4200.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Every applicant for a permit shall pay a processing fee of $150.00 prior to review of" … "the written consent of the property owner or an agent or representative of" … "the sponsor of the fireworks display must first appoint a supervisor who"
  - Source: [Fireworks & Pyrotechnics, Permits](https://www.surrey.ca/about-surrey/surrey-fire-services/fireworks-pyrotechnics)
  - Official wording: "at least 5 business days before the scheduled event" … "A Certificate of Liability Insurance (minimum $2,000,000)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: $450 ($400 if paid within 14 days; $500 if late) for exploding fireworks without a permit, in a public place, or by a person under 18, and for illegal sale. Municipal ticket: $1,000.
  - Source: [Surrey Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2016, No. 18691, Schedule A, Part 4200](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/18691)
  - Official wording: "4200 3(5) Explode fireworks without $450.00 $400.00 $500.00" … "4200 4 Explode in public place $450.00 $400.00 $500.00"
  - Source: [Surrey Municipal Ticket Information Utilization By-law, 1994, No. 12508, Schedule 19](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_reg_12508.pdf)
  - Official wording: "3(5) $1,000.00 4. Explode fireworks without a permit" … "4 $1,000.00 6. Explode in public place"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Surrey Fireworks Regulation By-law, 1974, No. 4200
  - Source: [Surrey Fireworks Regulation By-law, 1974, No. 4200 (consolidated to Bylaw 21974, 2026), s. 1](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_reg_4200.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This By-law may be cited for all purposes as "Surrey Fireworks Regulation By-law, 1974,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Fireworks Regulation By-law 4200](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_reg_4200.pdf), no one may set off fireworks in Surrey unless they are a certified Fireworks Supervisor holding a permit from the Fire Chief. Fireworks may not be exploded on a highway, street, park, playground, school ground or other public place except as a permit allows. The by-law sets no dates or hours for consumer fireworks, so backyard fireworks for Halloween or Diwali are not allowed. Fireworks means anything made or used to produce an explosion or detonation, or a pyrotechnic device. Caps for toy guns are excluded.

## Steps for a special event permit

1. Apply in writing to the Fire Chief through Surrey Fire Prevention, at least 5 business days before the event.
2. Show owner consent, liability insurance of at least $2,000,000, a certified Fireworks Supervisor, and an NRCan Fireworks Operator card.
3. Pay the $150 processing fee before the application is reviewed.

## Good to know

- Only a certified Fireworks Supervisor who also holds a City business licence as a fireworks vendor may sell or give out fireworks.
- No one may sell or give fireworks to anyone under 18 or who appears to be under 18.
- Exploding fireworks without a permit, in a public place or by a person under 18, and illegal sale: bylaw notice $450 ($400 if paid within 14 days; $500 if late); municipal ticket $1,000.
- On conviction in court the fine is $400 to $50,000 plus costs.

## What you'll need

- Owner consent for the site
- Certificate of liability insurance of at least $2,000,000
- A certified Fireworks Supervisor, with an NRCan Fireworks Operator card

## Official forms and pages

- [Fireworks/Pyrotechnics Permit Application (PDF)](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/media/documents/Form-104-Firerworks-Permit-Application-2024.pdf)
- [Fireworks Regulation By-law 4200 (PDF)](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_reg_4200.pdf)
- [Fireworks and Pyrotechnics](https://www.surrey.ca/about-surrey/surrey-fire-services/fireworks-pyrotechnics)

## Related questions

- [Surrey backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/backyard-fire.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fireworks rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fireworks.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/fireworks.md)
- [White Rock](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/fireworks.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/fireworks.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/fireworks.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/fireworks.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/fireworks.md)

## Sources

- [Fireworks & Pyrotechnics, City of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ca/about-surrey/surrey-fire-services/fireworks-pyrotechnics) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Surrey Fireworks Regulation By-law, 1974, No. 4200 (consolidated to Bylaw 21974, 2026) (PDF)](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_reg_4200.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Surrey Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2016, No. 18691, Schedule A](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/18691) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Surrey Municipal Ticket Information Utilization By-law, 1994, No. 12508 (PDF)](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_reg_12508.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 City of Surrey. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/fireworks/_