Yolo County increased fireworks fines. Here’s how other counties compare
For those in Yolo County, Independence Day might sound a lot quieter this year. The county’s fine for illegal fireworks just skyrocketed tenfold.
The Yolo County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted Tuesday to increase the penalty for the first violation of the county’s fireworks ordinance from $100 to $1,000. The change will go into effect on July 3.
The fine is for Yolo County residents who use “dangerous fireworks,” including firecrackers, Roman candles and any explosives which rise in the air during discharge. The fine also applies to anyone who sells “safe and sane fireworks,” which are ground-based, without a permit.
Yolo County’s fireworks ordinance was last changed in 2001, and the Board of Supervisors felt it no longer fit the state and county’s safety requirements.
“In the intervening 24 years,” the amendment read, “State regulations regarding fireworks have changed and climate change has increased the risks associated with fires that can be started by fireworks.”
The amendment was inspired by neighboring counties, including Sacramento and Placer, that already instituted hefty fines for violating fireworks ordinances. The ordinances vary by county and city, so the night sky on July 4 will look different depending on local law.
In Davis, Yolo County’s most populous city, the sky will be dark for most of the night. The possession of fireworks is outright prohibited under city code. The only exception is for the city’s Independence Day celebration. Starting at 9:35 p.m., there will be a fifteen-minute fireworks display at Community Park.
In Sacramento County, dangerous fireworks are prohibited, and safe and sane fireworks can only be purchased between June 28 and July 4. For violators, a $1,000 fine is just the starting point. A second violation within the same year results in a $2,500 fine, and every subsequent violation in that year costs $5,000. If the fireworks ordinance is violated at a Sacramento County park or school, the fine is $10,000.
In the city of Sacramento, Councilmembers Lisa Kaplan and Rick Jennings submitted a proposal on April 8 to increase the fine for the first violation of possessing dangerous fireworks from $1,000 to $10,000.
“During July 4th, 2024,” the proposal read, “the Sacramento Fire Department responded to 435 emergency calls, with 188 of those calls being related to fires.” The council members argue that an increased fine will deter the use of dangerous fireworks and ensure safe celebrations. The proposal has yet to reach the Sacramento City Council.
Placer County requires a permit for the use, discharge, and possession of any fireworks. The fee for violating the ordinance can be up to $2,000.
Roseville, the biggest city in Placer County, has a similar code to Sacramento. The sale of safe and sane fireworks is allowed between noon and 10 p.m. on June 28 and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. from June 29 until July 4. The city updated its code in May 2024 to charge $750 for the first violation and $1,000 for each subsequent violation. In Roseville, each firework counts as a separate violation, so possession of five fireworks results in a $4,750 fine.
In Sacramento and Placer counties, a violation of fireworks regulations can be cited as a criminal misdemeanor. As long as residents follow city and county’s fireworks regulations, they can avoid county jail on Independence Day.