Texas Fireworks Laws Complete Text

For those of you with a lot of free time, the complete list of Texas Fireworks Laws are online in a single document. There are a few other laws spread throughout the Texas Codes, but this document covers every major fireworks law in Texas as of 8/15/2008. Happy reading!

All Texas Fireworks Laws in PDF.

Texas Fireworks Laws by City: What is the fireworks law in your Texas town?

In Texas, only municipalities are allowed to prohibit the sale, use and possession of fireworks on a permanent basis. This is done through the Texas LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 217. MUNICIPAL REGULATION OF NUISANCES AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT. This allows a city to declare fireworks a nuisance and regulate them.

While all cities in Texas can regulate fireworks in their city limits, their power outside of the city limits differs by the type of town. A Texas General Law city is restricted to only actions inside of their city limits. A Home-Rule City, which is a city that has more than 5,000 inhabitants and a home-rule charter form of government, can regulate fireworks up to 5,000 feet outside of the city.

Here’s a listing of Texas cities fireworks ordinances/laws:

• San Antonio, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city and within 5,000ft.
• Dallas, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city and within 5,000ft.
• Mesquite, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city.
• Wiley, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city and within 5,000ft.
• Arlington, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city and within 5,000ft.
• Frisco, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city and within 5,000ft.
• Lavon, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city.
• Parker, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city.
• Roanoke, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city.
• Addison, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city and within 5,000ft.
• Fairview, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city and within 5,000ft.
• McKinney, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city and within 5,000ft.
• Corpus Christi, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city and within 5,000ft. Corpus is one of the most anti-fireworks cities in the state. They actively enforce use, sales and possession of fireworks within 5,000ft of their city limits. So, consumers need to be careful not to come within 5,000ft of their city limits. (Yes, they need a hobby!)
• El Paso, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city and within 5,000ft. El Paso city also is very anti-fireworks and will ticket people who bring fireworks too close to the city limits.
• Amarillo, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city.
• Lubbock, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city.
• Ft. Worth, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city and within 5,000ft.
• Houston, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city. No 5,000ft ordinance. Be careful in that there are limited purpose annexations designed to get tax revenue but that also prohibit fireworks. See the Harris County fire marshal’s office for info: http://www.hcfmo.net/fireworks.aspx
• Victoria, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city and within 5,000ft.
• Plano, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city and within 5,000ft.
• Little Elm, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city and within 5,000ft.
• Beeville, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city.
• Harlingen, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city.
• McAllen, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city and within 5,000 ft.
• New Braunfels, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city and within 5,000 ft.
• Mission, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city.
• Edinburg, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city.
• Laredo, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city.
• Austin, Texas fireworks prohibited in the city and within 5,000 ft.

Please note that this information is listed to the best of our knowledge and are subject to change. For definitive answers, please contact your local city or county fire marshal. If you see an error in this list, please let us know!

Buying Fireworks in Texas: A Guide to Texas Fireworks Laws for Consumers

In Texas, laws regarding fireworks are confusing. This is a summary of the Texas Fireworks laws for consumer fireworks.

What Fireworks You Can Buy in Texas:

All United States Consumer Product Safety Commission fireworks classified at 1.4G may be sold to the public (http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/012.html) except:

* Classic “bottle rockets” defined as stick rockets that have:

(A) a total propellant charge of less than four grams;
(B) a casing size of less than five-eighths of an inch for the outside diameter and less than 3-1/2 inches in length;
And
(C) an overall length, including stick, of less than 15 inches;

* “Texas Pop Rockets” with a propellant casing length of less than five inches, an exterior diameter of less than three-fourths of an inch, and an overall total rocket length of less than 26 inches are not permissible fireworks. Note that the text of this law says “and” so any stick rocket that exceeds one of those dimensions is legal in the state.

When & Where You Can Buy Fireworks:

Retailers get a license from the State of Texas either directly from the State Fire Marshal or through their distributor. A retail fireworks permit holder may sell fireworks only to the public, and only during periods:

1. beginning June 24 and ending at midnight on July 4;
2. beginning December 20 and ending at midnight on January 1 of the following year; and
3. beginning May 1 and ending at midnight on May 5 if the fireworks are sold at a location that is not more than 100 miles from the Texas-Mexico border and that is in a county in which the commissioners court of the county has approved the sale of fireworks during the period. Currently, only Maverick, Webb and a few other counties have approved sales for Cinco de Mayo.

When & Where You Can Shoot Fireworks:

In Texas, you are allowed to shoot fireworks year-round. The only restriction is when you can buy them. You can only shoot however in an area where it is not prohibited through City or County ordinance.  Cities are able to restrict fireworks use and possession in their city limits.  Some larger cities have the ability to restrict fireworks within 5000ft of their city limits.

Counties are only allowed to prohibit stick rockets and missiles with fins in times of drought. They can only do more than that by declaring a state of emergency in their county. For up to date information on the current ordinance in your county, call your local county fire marshal’s office.

Please note that this information is listed to the best of our knowledge and are subject to change. For definitive answers, please contact your local fire marshal.

New Texas Fireworks Law Change: What Type of Rockets and Missile Fireworks are Legal and Illegal in Texas?

Effective January 2, 2008, many stick rocket fireworks became illegal in Texas. There, however, is some confusion about the law. For a fireworks stick rocket to be illegal in Texas, it must meet all three of the following requirements:

1. a propellant casing (i.e. the body of the rocket) length of less than five inches,
2. an exterior diameter of less than three-fourths of an inch,
3. an overall total rocket length (i.e. the stick and the rocket body in total) of less than 26 inches.

This is to say a rocket is legal if it does not meet any or one or two of these criteria. As an example, a rocket will be deemed legal if it is less than 26” long and has a propellant casing of less than 5” but has a 1″ diameter.

Find the full fireworks stick rocket law for Texas at:
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/html/HB00539F.htm