Can my kid use fireworks in Pennsylvania on July Fourth? Know these fireworks laws in PA

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The Fourth of July falls on a Friday, and parents need to know these fireworks laws before allowing your kids to celebrate the July Fourth holiday weekend by setting off fireworks displays across Pennsylvania.

And parents in Pennsylvania should be particularly aware of the regulations, as teens 15 to 19 years of age had the highest estimated rate of emergency room visits related to fireworks-related injuries.

How old does my child have to be to use fireworks in Pennsylvania?

According to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, your child needs to be at least 18 years old to “purchase, possess and use” consumer fireworks.

Which fireworks can my child use in Pennsylvania?

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s fireworks guide spells out which fireworks are legal to use to celebrate the Fourth of July, and there are a few your child probably won’t have access to.

“Consumers can purchase and use Class C or consumer-grade fireworks such as firecrackers, Roman candles, bottle rockets, and similar fireworks that contain a maximum of 50 milligrams of explosive material,” read the fireworks guide. “Display fireworks are only to be used by professionals with a permit from the municipality where the display will take place.”

What are the fireworks restrictions in Pennsylvania?

The Commonwealth’s fireworks guide outlines the common-sense laws that you and your child will need to follow when setting off fireworks displays during the July Fourth holiday weekend:

• Cannot be ignited or discharged on public or private property without express permission of the property owner
• Cannot be directed at another person
• Cannot be discharged from or directed at a building or vehicle
• Cannot be discharged within 150 feet of a building or vehicle regardless if the building or vehicle is owned by the user of the consumer fireworks
• Cannot be discharged while the person is under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance or another drug

Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending topics across the Mid-Atlantic Region.