Fireworks have been legal for a few years now in Georgia, but every July 4th and New Years, it seems law enforcement officers are called repeatedly for perfectly legal behavior under Georgia law.
Note: Some incorporated cities have more stringent ordinanes in place, but they apply to “other days,” not July 4th and New Years.
Here’s a quick guide to what’s not legal:
- Selling fireworks to persons UNDER 18 years of age.
- Selling fireworks through the mail.
- Discharging fireworks indoors
- Discharging fireworks near a right of way.
- Discharging fireworks before 10:00AM (With the exception of January 1st, when firework discharges are LEGAL until 1:00AM.)
- Discharging Fireworks after 9:00PM (With the exception of January 1st, July 3rd, July 4th and December 31st where fireworks discharge are LEGAL until 11:59 PM)
- Discharging fireworks within 100 yards of an electric plant; water treatment plant; waste-water treatment plant; a facility engaged in the retail sale of gasoline or other flammable or combustible liquids or gases where the volume stored is in excess of 500 gallons for the purpose of retail sale; a facility engaged in the production, refining, processing, or blending of any flammable or combustible liquids or gases for retail purposes; any public or private electric substation; or a jail or prison.
- Discharging fireworks while within any park, historic site, recreational area, or other property which is owned by or operated by, for, or under the custody and control of the State of Georgia.
- Discharging fireworks within 100 yards of a hospital, nursing home, or other health care facility.
The fireworks that you can legally buy in retail stores across Georgia include:
- Bottle Rockets
- Sky Rockets
- Roman Candles
- Firecrackers
- Sparklers
- Smoke and Punk
- Fountains
- Missiles
- Novelties
- Crackle and Strobe
- Parachutes
- Wheels and Spinners
- Sky Flyers
- Display Shells
- Aerial Items (Cakes)
So remember, it is LEGAL to discharge fireworks until 1AM on January 1st.
