Chapter 8.16
FIREWORKS
(effective on October 16, 2025)
Sections:
8.16.025 Prohibition on sale and use of fireworks.
8.16.030 Display fireworks and special use.
8.16.040 Permit applications—Review by fire chief—Fees—Validity.
8.16.050 Seizure of fireworks.
8.16.060 References to state RCW and WAC.
8.16.070 Violation—Civil penalty.
* Prior ordinance history: Ords. 214, 250 and 546.
8.16.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to implement and supplement Chapter 70.77 RCW and Chapter 212-17 WAC, hereafter referred to as the state fireworks law, as they now exist or may be hereafter amended. The provisions of this chapter shall be construed and applied in accordance with the definitions, requirements and prohibitions of the state fireworks law and all rules and regulations issued pursuant to the state fireworks law. (Ord. 735 § 1, 2024; Ord. 565 § 1 (part), 2006)
8.16.015 Definitions.
Pursuant to RCW 35A.11.020 and 35A.12.140, the city hereby incorporates, by and through this reference, the definitions set forth in Chapter 70.77 RCW, state fireworks law, including RCW 70.77.120 through 70.77.241. These definitions apply to the words and terms used in this chapter. (Ord. 735 § 1, 2024; Ord. 565 § 1 (part), 2006)
8.16.020 Local fire official.
The city fire chief, sometimes referred to in this chapter as fire marshal, is designated as the local fire official for the city pursuant to the state fireworks law. (Ord. 735 § 1, 2024; Ord. 565 § 1 (part), 2006)
8.16.025 Prohibition on sale and use of fireworks.
Except as otherwise set forth in Section 8.16.030, it is unlawful for any person to sell, possess, use, transfer, discharge, ignite or explode any fireworks, including but not limited to consumer, display, or other special pyrotechnics or fireworks, within the city. (Ord. 735 § 1, 2024; Ord. 565 § 1 (part), 2006)
8.16.030 Display fireworks and special use.
A. Public displays of fireworks shall be subject to the following procedures and regulations:
1. A public display of fireworks may be authorized by permit issued by the city pursuant to RCW 70.77.260, including standards, requirements, obligations, and duties set forth in Chapter 70.77 RCW.
2. In addition to a city permit, any person or entity proposing to conduct a public display of fireworks shall also be required to obtain a license from the state pursuant to RCW 70.77.305.
3. A bond or certificate of insurance must be furnished to the fire chief or his designee before a permit is issued. The bond shall be in the amount of one million dollars and shall be conditioned upon the applicant’s payment of all damages to persons and property resulting from or caused by such public display of fireworks, or by any negligence on the part of the applicant or its agents, servants, employees or subcontractors in the presentation of the display. The certificate of insurance shall evidence a comprehensive general liability (including automobile coverage) insurance policy providing limits of one million dollars combined single limit, per occurrence and annual aggregate, no deductible, and naming the city of Bridgeport as an additional insured.
4. All minimum clearances, site dimensions, separation clearances and landing areas shall be subject to review by and approval of the fire chief or his designee. In the sole discretion of the fire chief or his designee, the minimum standards of the state fireworks law may be increased to protect the public and property.
5. The applicant shall provide crowd control for the display. The fire chief or his designee shall determine the level of crowd control necessary, including the number and placement of crowd control monitors. If local law enforcement is providing crowd control, the applicant shall pay the full cost of the required personnel and equipment to the appropriate law enforcement agency prior to the display.
6. If, in the opinion of the fire chief or his designee, the sheriff or the pyrotechnic operator, a lack of fire protection or crowd control poses a danger to the public or property, then the fire chief or his designee, the sheriff or the pyrotechnic operator shall immediately suspend the display until the danger is corrected.
7. The applicant shall provide fire protection for the display. The fire chief or his designee shall determine the level of personnel and equipment necessary. Prior to the public display, the applicant shall pay the full cost of the required personnel and equipment to the city of Bridgeport.
8. The denial by the fire chief or his designee of a permit for a public display of fireworks may be appealed to the city council. The determination of the city council shall be final unless it is appealed to the Douglas County superior court within twenty-one days of the date of the city council decision.
B. Pursuant to RCW 70.77.311(2)(c) and (2)(d), the purchase, possession, and use of fireworks by religious organizations or other private parties for specific purposes may be permitted on an approved date and at an approved location pursuant to a permit issued by the city.
C. Use of trick and novelty devices, as defined in WAC 212-17-025, is authorized without obtaining a permit from the city. (Ord. 735 § 1, 2024; Ord. 565 § 1 (part), 2006)
8.16.040 Permit applications—Review by fire chief—Fees—Validity.
A. Applications for a permit for a public display of fireworks as required by Section 8.16.030 shall be made in writing to the city clerk-treasurer, on forms provided by the city, at least forty-five days in advance of the scheduled event or activity. Unless exempted from the requirement to pay permit fees, as further set forth below, each application shall be accompanied by the applicable permit fee. The permit application fee, which is nonrefundable, shall be established from time to time by resolution of the city council. The city clerk-treasurer shall forward each permit application to the city fire chief for review and decision.
B. All permit applications shall be reviewed and approved or denied by the city fire chief. The city fire chief shall make an investigation as to whether the character and location of the display, as proposed, may be hazardous or dangerous to any person or property, and shall, in the exercise of reasonable discretion, grant or deny the application, subject to such reasonable conditions, if any, as the fire chief may prescribe. The city fire chief may impose reasonable requirements on any permit consistent with Chapter 212-17 WAC (Rules of the Director of Fire Protection Relating to Fireworks). Applicants for public display permits pursuant to RCW 70.77.260 shall also meet all qualifications and requirements of state law regarding public display of fireworks (including but not limited to RCW 70.77.260 through 70.77.295) and all fire and safety requirements as set forth in the standards for public display (including Chapter 212-17 WAC) and shall hold a pyrotechnic operator license issued by the state.
C. The city fire chief may revoke any fireworks permit for noncompliance or failure to correct a violation of any applicable rules, regulations, or conditions. The city fire chief may revoke a permit at any time due to weather conditions, including extremely low humidity, wind, heat, lightning, or other dangerous fire conditions, as determined by the city fire chief in his or her sole discretion.
D. Applications for permits pursuant to RCW 70.77.311(2)(c), for religious or specific purposes, shall not require payment of a permit fee. The city council shall establish permit fees for the public display of fireworks, as authorized by RCW 70.77.555, from time to time by resolution.
E. Each permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall be valid for the specific authorized event only, shall be used only by the designated permittee and shall be nontransferable. Any transfer or unauthorized use of a permit is a violation of this chapter and shall void the permit granted. (Ord. 735 § 1, 2024; Ord. 565 § 1 (part), 2006)
8.16.050 Seizure of fireworks.
The sheriff’s department, or such other person with whom the city may contract, shall seize, take, remove, or cause to be removed at the expense of the owner, all fireworks offered or exposed for sale, stored, possessed or used in violation of this chapter.
A. Any person whose fireworks are seized under the provisions of this section may, within ten days after such seizure, petition in writing to return the fireworks seized upon the grounds that such fireworks were illegally or erroneously seized. Such petitions shall be considered within fifteen days after filing and an oral hearing granted to the petitioner if requested. The decision of the sheriff’s department shall be provided in writing to the petitioner. The sheriff’s department may order the fireworks seized under this chapter disposed, or returned to the petitioner if illegally or erroneously seized, providing such return is in compliance with the state law and this chapter.
B. The determination of the sheriff’s department is final, unless within twenty-one days an action is commenced in the Douglas County superior court for the recovery of fireworks seized by the sheriff’s department.
C. Fireworks that are seized or illegal for use and possession in the city shall be turned over to the State Fire Marshal for destruction. (Ord. 735 § 1, 2024; Ord. 565 § 1 (part), 2006)
8.16.060 References to state RCW and WAC.
All references in this chapter to the Revised Code of the State of Washington, or RCW, and the Washington Administrative Code, or WAC, shall be deemed references to these provisions as they presently exist or as they may hereafter be amended. (Ord. 735 § 1, 2024; Ord. 565 § 1 (part), 2006)
8.16.070 Violation—Civil penalty.
A. Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be deemed to have committed a civil infraction and shall be punished by a fine in an amount not exceeding five hundred dollars. In the event a person is found in violation of this chapter, the city’s fire chief may deny approval of a request by the person for a public display of fireworks permit for the next or any subsequent year.
B. A person is guilty of a separate offense for each separate and distinct violation of any provisions of this chapter, and a person is guilty of a separate offense for each day during which he/she commits or allows to continue any violation of the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 735 § 1, 2024; Ord. 565 § 1 (part), 2006)