Fireworks Would Be Legal Just 4 Days A Year In PA Under Proposed Bill

PENNSYLVANIA — Forthcoming legislation in the Pennsylvania General Assembly would outlaw public fireworks on all but four days a year, citing complaints from groups sensitive to loud noises as well as a recent increase in injuries statewide.

The soon to be introduced bill, from State. Sen Mario M. Scavello, would make fireworks illegal save for a few hours on the traditional fireworks-oriented holidays: Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, and New Year's Eve.

"It is important to emphasize that in addition to the noise complaints, firework-related incidents like injuries, fires and loss of property have also increased," Scavello wrote in a co-sponsorship memorandum published last week.

While the bill would limit public firework usage, commercial fireworks launched by trained professionals would still be legal in places like amusement parks, fairgrounds, outdoor concerts and festivals, sporting events and other events approved by local emergency officials.

The legislation would amend the state's current fireworks law, Act 43, which was most recently amended in 2017. That law actually notably reduced restrictions on fireworks, allowing residents to purchase and set off "Class C" or "consumer-grade" fireworks. That includes firecrackers, Roman Candles, bottle rockets, and similar fireworks that contain a maximum of 50 milligrams of explosive material.

That 2017 expansion included those fireworks that were previously only available to out-of-state residents."Display fireworks," which are classified as including salutes that contain more than two grains or 130 milligrams of explosive materials, and professional-grade aerial shells containing more than 60 grams of pyrotechnic compositions, are still only to be used by professionals with a permit from the municipality where the display will take place.

Scavello said that he's heard complaints from many residents about the current state of fireworks in Pennsylvania, specifically noting "seniors, veterans, parents with small children, and people with pets." That in addition to complaints from municipal leaders and emergency responders.

The bill would also change where fireworks can be set off: they would need to be at least 500 feet from a residential property line and 2,500 feet from a farm property line under the new proposal.

Scavello did not say exactly when the legislation would formally introduced.