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

# Vernon fireworks rules

**Question:** Are fireworks allowed?

**Short answer:** No. Under the City of Vernon's Fire Services Bylaw, no one may store, sell, possess or discharge fireworks in the City unless authorized by a permit. The only permit the bylaw describes is for Display Fireworks, issued by the Director of Fire Rescue Services.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Vernon, https://www.vernon.ca)  
**Cost:** Display Fireworks Permit $100. Possessing or discharging without a permit: bylaw notice $150 ($125 if paid within 14 days, $175 after 28 days); municipal ticket $300. Storing without a permit: notice $100; ticket $200.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Compliance (to report), 250-550-3505

## Key facts

- **Setting off fireworks:** Not without a permit. No one may store, sell, possess or discharge fireworks anywhere in the City unless authorized by a permit under the Fire Services Bylaw. The only permit the bylaw describes is for Display Fireworks, issued by the Director of Fire Rescue Services.
  - Source: [Fire Services Bylaw 5635, s. 9.1, 9.2(a)](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/fire_services_bylaw_5635.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall, at any time, store, sell, possess or discharge Fireworks anywhere within the City, unless authorized by a Permit under this Bylaw." … "No person shall at any time, possess or set off Display Fireworks unless that person has first obtained a valid Permit from the Director of Fire Rescue Services in the prescribed form."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Selling fireworks:** No. No one may sell fireworks in the City unless authorized by a permit under the bylaw. Display Fireworks may be sold only to a person presenting a valid permit from the Director of Fire Rescue Services.
  - Source: [Fire Services Bylaw 5635, s. 9.1, 9.4](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/fire_services_bylaw_5635.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall, at any time, store, sell, possess or discharge Fireworks anywhere within the City, unless authorized by a Permit under this Bylaw." … "No person shall offer for sale, sell, give or trade any Display Fireworks to any person other than a person presenting a valid Permit issued by the Director of Fire Rescue Services."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What counts as fireworks:** "Fireworks" includes cannon crackers, fireballs, firecrackers, mines, roman candles, skyrockets, squibs, torpedoes and other explosive products made to produce an explosion. "Display Fireworks" are high-hazard articles for professionals, such as aerial shells, cakes, roman candles, waterfalls, lances and wheels.
  - Source: [Fire Services Bylaw 5635, Schedule A (definitions)](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/fire_services_bylaw_5635.pdf)
  - Official wording: "includes cannon crackers, fireballs, firecrackers, mines, roman candles, skyrockets, squibs, torpedoes, and other explosive products or devices manufactured to intentionally produce an explosion." … "means high-hazard firework articles designed for use by professionals. These articles include items such as aerial shells, cakes, roman candles, waterfalls, lances and wheels."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Permit:** A Display Fireworks Permit from the Director of Fire Rescue Services, $100. The applicant must be the person who will supervise the display and must hold a Fireworks Supervisor Certificate from Natural Resources Canada.
  - Source: [Fire Services Bylaw 5635, s. 9.2, 9.3](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/fire_services_bylaw_5635.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Every person applying for a Permit to possess or set off Display Fireworks must be the same person who will supervise the setting off of the Display Fireworks and that person must also possess a valid Fireworks Supervisor Certificate issued by Natural Resources Canada."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909 (consolidated), Schedule A, section 6 (Fire Rescue Services), item F](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/fees_and_charges_bylaw_3909_consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Display Fireworks Permit $100.00 each"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Possessing or discharging fireworks without a permit: bylaw notice $150 ($125 early, $175 late); municipal ticket $300 ($225 early). Storing fireworks without a permit: notice $100 ($75 early, $90 late); ticket $200 ($180 early).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 6048, Schedule A (Fire Services Bylaw)](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%206048.pdf)
  - Official wording: "9.1 Possession or discharge of $150.00 $125.00 $175.00 NO" … "9.5 Storage of Fireworks $100.00 $75.00 $90.00 NO"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw 6049, Schedule B (Fire Services Bylaw)](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/Municipal%20Ticketing%20Information%20Bylaw%206049.pdf)
  - Official wording: "9.1 Possession or discharge of $300.00 $225.00" … "9.5 Storage of Fireworks without $200.00 $180.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Fire Services Bylaw No. 5635 (Part Nine, Fireworks)
  - Source: [Fire Services Bylaw 5635, Schedule A (definitions)](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/fire_services_bylaw_5635.pdf)
  - Official wording: "means the City of Vernon Fire Services Bylaw No. 5635."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Part Nine of the [Fire Services Bylaw 5635](<https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/fire_services_bylaw_5635.pdf>) says no one may store, sell, possess or discharge fireworks anywhere in the City of Vernon unless authorized by a permit. "Fireworks" includes cannon crackers, fireballs, firecrackers, mines, roman candles, skyrockets, squibs, torpedoes and other explosive products made to produce an explosion. The bylaw sets no dates or hours when fireworks are allowed.

## Steps

1. For a professional display, apply for a Display Fireworks Permit from the Director of Fire Rescue Services. The fee is $100.
2. The applicant must be the person who will supervise the display and must hold a Fireworks Supervisor Certificate from Natural Resources Canada.
3. Display Fireworks (high-hazard articles such as aerial shells, cakes, waterfalls, lances and wheels) may be sold only to a person with a valid permit.

## Good to know

- The bylaw describes permits for Display Fireworks only. It does not say whether any other fireworks can be permitted, and it does not mention sparklers. Ask Bylaw Compliance.
- Report fireworks being set off to Bylaw Compliance at 250-550-3505. For a fire or danger to people, call 9-1-1.

## Official forms and pages

- [Fire Services Bylaw 5635 (PDF), Part Nine Fireworks](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/fire_services_bylaw_5635.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Fireworks rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fireworks.md)
- [Coldstream](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/fireworks.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/fireworks.md)
- [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/fireworks.md)
- [Armstrong](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/fireworks.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/fireworks.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/fireworks.md)

## Sources

- [Fire Services Bylaw 5635 (PDF), City of Vernon](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/fire_services_bylaw_5635.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909 (consolidated) (PDF), City of Vernon](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/fees_and_charges_bylaw_3909_consolidated.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 6048 (PDF), City of Vernon](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%206048.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw 6049 (PDF), City of Vernon](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/Municipal%20Ticketing%20Information%20Bylaw%206049.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Contact Us, City of Vernon](https://www.vernon.ca/government-services/contact-us) (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 Vernon. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/fireworks/_