Firework Laws: what is legal, when can they be sold and when and where can they be used?

As of Jan. 1, 2021, certain fireworks are legal to purchase and be used within Arizona.

Legal Consumer Fireworks

The consumer fireworks that are legal in Arizona are: ground and hand-held sparkling devices; cylindrical/cone fountains; illuminating torches; wheels; ground spinners; flitter sparklers; toy smoke devices; wire sparklers and dipped sticks.

Illegal Consumer Fireworks

The consumer fireworks that continue to be illegal for use in Arizona are: sky rockets/bottle/missile-type rockets; helicopters, aerial spinners, torpedoes, roman candles, mine devices; firecrackers; reloadable shell devices; aerials and single tube devices that are shot up into the air.

Permissible Dates for the Sale & Use of Legal Fireworks

Legal consumer fireworks may be sold by authorized stores or vendors within Town boundaries between:

• April 25 through May 6
• May 20 through July 6
• December 10 through January 3

Use of legal consumer fireworks within the Town of Queen Creek is only allowed between:

• May 4 through May 6
• June 24 through July 6
• December 24 through January 3

It is important to know that legal consumer fireworks are allowed only on private property and a person(s) who use, discharge or ignite permissible consumer fireworks are responsible and liable for expenses as a result of any emergency response that is required by such use, discharge or ignition per the Town Code.

For additional information, please reference Arizona State Law related to consumer fireworks.

To report illegal firework use, contact QCPD's non-emergency number at 480-358-3500.

Firework Safety 

Risk of Private Fireworks Use 

• The risk of fire death relative to time used shows fireworks as the riskiest consumer product.
• The risk that someone will die from fire when fireworks are being used is higher relative to exposure time than the risk of fire death when a cigarette is being smoked.
• The risks with fireworks are not limited to displays, public or private. Risks also exist wherever fireworks are manufactured, transported, stored or sold.
• “Safe and sane” fireworks are neither. Fireworks and sparklers are designed to explode or throw off showers of hot sparks. Temperatures may exceed 1,200°F.

Please remember during your times of celebrations that fireworks are dangerous, attend a fireworks display that is put on by a professional.

Fireworks Safety Tips from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission

• Avoid buying fireworks that come in brown paper packaging, as this can often be a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and could pose a danger to consumers.
• Adults should always supervise fireworks activities. Parents often don't realize that there are many injuries from sparklers to children under five. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.
• Never have any portion of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Move back to a safe distance immediately after lighting.
• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not fully functioned.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
• Light fireworks one at a time then move back quickly.
• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
• After fireworks fully complete their functioning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding to prevent a trash fire.