Can I report my neighbor for setting off fireworks in SLO County? See the rules
With Independence Day coming up on Saturday, July 4, you might be tempted to set off fireworks to celebrate the holiday.
California has strict rules about which kinds of fireworks are allowed — and where.
Many communities in San Luis Obispo County have banned the use of personal fireworks outright, while others allow them within certain
Can you call the cops on your neighbor for setting off fireworks? What’s the process for reporting illegal fireworks sales or use?
Here’s what to know in SLO County:
Which fireworks are legal to use in California?
In California, the only consumer fireworks that are legal to use are known as “safe and sane” fireworks.
These fireworks are approved by the State Fire Marshal and are marked with the marshal’s official seal, according to the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection.
“Safe and sane” fireworks typically do not explode or shoot into the air.
According to the state department, legal fireworks in California include:
- Fountains
- Fairy wands
- Sparklers
- Smoke sticks
- Snake-type fireworks
- Ground-spinning fireworks
Legal fireworks can only be sold from noon on June 28 to noon on July 7, according to the State Fire Marshal
Which fireworks are illegal in California?
Any firework that explodes, launches into the air or moves uncontrollably on the ground is illegal in California, according to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
Illegal fireworks in California include:
- Skyrockets
- Bottle rockets
- Roman candles
- Aerial shells
- Firecrackers
Where are ‘safe and sane’ fireworks allowed in SLO County?
Fireworks are prohibited in all unincorporated areas of San Luis Obispo County.
This includes the communities of Oceano, Cayucos, Nipomo, Avila Beach, Shandon, Creston, Santa Margarita and San Miguel, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.
Exceptions are made for “permitted professional displays,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a Monday, June 29, news release.
In addition, some towns and cities allow residents to use “safe and sane” fireworks for personal use.
You can set off “safe and sane” fireworks in Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, according to the Five Cities Fire Authority.
In Templeton, fireworks can be launched on non-commercial private properties on Independence Day from noon to 10 p.m.
Firework use is prohibited on streets, sidewalks, parking lots, parks, schools and other public sites, the Templeton Community Services District said.
Children under age 18 are not allowed to buy, sell or handle fireworks in Templeton.
How can I report illegal fireworks use?
SLO County residents can report illegal fireworks shows by calling the Sheriff’s Office’s non-emergency line at 805-781-4550 or the Fireworks Reporting Hotline at 805-781-1933.
In Atascadero, you can call the Atascadero Police Department’s non-emergency line at 805-461-5051 to report fireworks being set off.
Call the Grover Beach Police Department’s non-emergency line at 805-473-4511 to report firework use violations.
Is there a reward for reporting illegal fireworks sales?
San Luis Obispo County Crime Stoppers is “offering a reward of up to $500 for information that leads to the identification and arrest of individuals possessing illegal fireworks with the intent to sell them,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a June 24 release.
To contact Crime Stoppers, call 805-549-7876, use the free P3 Tips mobile app or go to the Crime Stoppers website.
What are penalties for illegal firework use?
If you’re caught launching fireworks in prohibited areas in SLO County, you can face a fine of up to $1,000 per discharge. That means you could be fined multiple times just for one incident.
You can be fined for igniting fireworks on your property even if someone else lit the firework.
You can also be charged for response costs such as law enforcement, fire and medical care. The county can also bill you for the fireworks disposal.
If your child sets off fireworks, you will be held “strictly liable” for their actions, county officials said.
In California, using or possessing fireworks that are not marked with a State Fire Marshal seal is punishable by fines starting at $2,000.
You could face felony charges if you’re caught with more than 500 pounds of illegal fireworks, according to SLO County.
