Legal Colorado fireworks allowed on July 3rd and July 4th until 11 p.m.
Fireworks still prohibited in the city on other days, hefty fines remain in place for violators
Personal fireworks that are legal under state law are now allowed in Commerce City until 11 p.m. on July 3 and 4, along with Dec. 31, under the ordinance approved by city council last June. The city’s new fireworks ordinance also allows the sale, storage, possession, and handling of these “permissible fireworks” in the city limits. Under the previous ordinance, using, possessing, and selling fireworks was illegal in the city.
The use of all personal fireworks remains prohibited on all other days of the year, after 11 p.m. on the three days when fireworks are allowed, and for kids under 16 without supervision. Hefty penalties remain in place for fireworks violations, with fines starting at $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for a second. Fireworks are still prohibited at all times in public areas such as city parks, trails, and other open spaces.
Personal fireworks that are permissible under Colorado law include:
- Cylindrical and cone fountains
- Wheels and ground spinners
- Illuminating torches and colored fire
- Dipped sticks and sparklers
- Toy propellant devices/trick noise makers
- Snake or glow worm pressed pellets
- Multiple tube/spark showers (less than 15 feet off the ground)
(all items above are subject to size and chemical composition limitations)
All other types of fireworks are illegal under Colorado law and remain illegal in Commerce City under the new ordinance. This includes all devices that explode, fragment, or travel through the air (such as firecrackers, bottle rockets, M-80s, cherry bombs, roman candles, and mortars) and any other firework not classified as a “permissible firework” by the state.
For more detailed information and the full text of the fireworks ordinance, visit c3gov.com/Codes and view Section 5-41001 of the municipal code.
The Commerce City Police Department encourages residents to use fireworks responsibly and carefully on the allowed days, and to be courteous to your neighbors (especially military veterans and those with pets) at all times.
To report a fireworks violation in your neighborhood, call the non-emergency dispatch line at 303-288-1535. Please provide a specific location where the violation occurs. Do not call 911 to report fireworks violations, since this could slow down response times for life-threatening emergencies.
