North Manheim Plans to Enact Regulations on Fireworks Use

Supervisors in North Manheim Township are expected to vote on an ordinance that regulates the use and sale of fireworks there.

The vote is expected to happen at the supervisors’ next public meeting, scheduled for July 1 at 7 p.m.

North Manheim’s proposed ordinance defines fireworks as one of two types: display or consumer. Neither of the classifications covers ground fireworks, handheld sparklers, novelty devices or toy caps.

Proposed Rules on Display Fireworks

If the ordinance is passed, a permit issued by the township will be required to set off display fireworks.

Per the draft ordinance, display fireworks are defined as the following:

• Salutes (fireworks designed to produce an explosive sound as its primary effect) that contain more than 50 milligrams of explosive materials;
• Aerial shells containing more than 40 grams of pyrotechnic compositions; and
• Other display pieces that exceed the limits of explosive materials for classification as consumer fireworks and are classified as fireworks UN0333, UN0334 or UN0335 under 49 CFR 172.101 (relating to purpose and use of hazardous materials table).

The ordinance does not set a permit fee, which will be set by a separate ordinance, but it does require permit holders to post a $1 million bond to “cover any personal injury or property damage caused by reason of the use of such display fireworks.”

Permits will only be granted to people 21 years of age or older who qualify as a “competent operator demonstrating evidence of fireworks handling and safety training.”

Applications for a display fireworks permit must be submitted at least 30 days in advance of the planned performance. And approval of the permit will require written permission from the property owner where the fireworks will be lit as well as the township’s Fire Marshal.

The proposed ordinance also sets rules on when and where display fireworks can be used. It says display fireworks can only be set off for a maximum of one hour and can not happen within 300 feet of any occupied structure or sales location.

Display fireworks will be prohibited from being set off between the hours of 11 p.m. and 11 a.m. except for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The deadline for setting off fireworks around that holiday is 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 1

Proposed Rules on Consumer Fireworks

For consumer-grade fireworks, North Manheim is proposing rules that restrict when and where they may be set off but overall are generally less stringent. 

For instance, no permit or bond is required to light them. 

There are limits on when they can be used, however. Consumer fireworks would be prohibited between 10 p.m. and 10 a.m. except on July 2, 3, 4 and on New Year’s Eve. The proposed ordinance would allow use of consumer fireworks until 1 a.m. the following day only on those specific dates.

If Independence Day falls on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, the township will allow consumer fireworks to be used until 1 a.m. on the following Friday and Saturday of that same week.

On Memorial Day and Labor Day, consumer fireworks can be used until 1 a.m. on the Saturday and Sunday preceding those holidays, per the proposed ordinance.

Consumer fireworks could only be used for a cumulative length of 60 minutes in a 24-hour period and they can’t be used in the following locations:

• On public or private property without the express permission of the owner;
• Inside a motor vehicle or occupied structure;
• From a motor vehicle or occupied structure;
• Into or at a motor vehicle or occupied structure or at another person;
• While under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or another drug;
• Within 150 feet of an occupied structure;
• Upon any Township roadway, park, public space, or any other Township-owned property, unless specifically authorized in writing in advance by the Township;
• Within 100 feet of any flammable gases or liquids, including, but not limited to, tanks of gasoline, oil, propane, and/or oxygen;
• Within 100 feet of any explosive materials, including, but not limited to, gunpowder, ammunition, and/or other fireworks, excluding the consumer firework to be ignited or discharged and the source of the ignition/discharge; and/or
• In a manner such that the sparks or any portion of the fireworks may land upon the property of another without that property owner’s express permission.

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