California State Fireworks Laws

CALIFORNIA CONSUMER FIREWORKS
Specifically permitted	Per APA Std. 87-1, the following items are permitted: ground & hand-held sparkling devices, cylindrical & cone fountains, wheel & ground spinners, illuminating torch, flitter sparklers (morning glory) not exceeding 10” in length or ¼” in diameter, toy smoke device, party poppers and snappers. Fireworks for sale must appear on the approved list issued annually by the SFM office.
Specifically prohibited	Firecrackers, skyrockets, rockets, roman candles, chasers, all wire & wooden stick sparklers, surprise items, friction items, torpedoes, firework kits, and fireworks containing arsenic, phosphorus, thiocyanates magnesium (magnesium-aluminum alloys permitted ), mercury salts, picrates or picric acid, gallates or gallic acid, chlorates (with few excepts), boron, titanium (except particle sizes larger than 100 mesh), zirconium, gunpowder, and fireworks kits.
Age to purchase and sell	Age to purchase 16 years of age Age to sell 18 years of age
Selling period	Noon, June 28, through noon, July 6.
DISPLAY FIREWORKS
Display Permit	Apply to State Fire Marshal prior to application to local authorities. After obtaining state license apply to local authorities at least 10 days before display date. “Special” state license authorizes multiple displays at single site only, $350 fee. “Limited” state license allows holding of a single display at a single location, $200 fee. “General” state license allows the holding and conducting of public displays of dangerous fireworks at various locations and at various times, $1,500 fee. Public Display licenses must report all contemplated displays to State Fire Marshal before display date, and file a post display report with the CA SFM within 10 working days of the display.
Insurance	Required. Minimum $1,000,000 combined single limits (personal/property) per occurrence annually, may have $15,000 deductible
Operator	State license required, apply to State Fire Marshal. Fee $50-$250 dependent on license classification. Written exam and evidence as to qualifications and experience is required. Original operator's license will not be issued for the month of June unless the application was received in the State Fire Marshal’s office on or before the preceding May 15th.
LICENSING	Annual licenses required. Apply to Director of State Police before April 1. Valid May 1-April 30. Non-residents must have license to do business in state. Retailer may purchase license from supplier, who must report to the director of state police semi-annually (January 31 and July 31.) Minimum age 21 years. Manufacturer $ 1,000 Importer $ 750 Distributor $ 500 Wholesaler $ 100 Retail (per outlet) $ 25 Shooter $ 50 Public Display $ 25
MANUFACTURE, STORAGE, TRANSPORTATION	Fireworks must be classified and registered by the State Fire Marshal. State seal of registration must be applied to all classified fireworks. Labeling, record keeping, transportation, manufacturing and storage safety requirements specified in law.
LICENSING	State licenses required annually, apply to State Fire Marshal. Valid July 1 through June 30 of the following year. Apply for renewal between January 1 and May 1. License number to be affixed to each order and invoice. Exception: retail license valid only during selling period. Apply to State Fire Marshal on or before June 15. Manufacturer $ 1,500 Wholesaler $ 3,000 Importer/Exporter $ 4,500 Retail Permit $ 50 Dealer in ag. items $ 500 Snap cap/party popper Distributor $ 750
ENFORCING AUTHORITY	State Fire Marshal 1131 "S" Street Sacramento, CA 95811 P.O. Box 944246 Sacramento, CA 94244-2460 916-445-8373 http://osfm.fire.ca.gov/
LAW NUMBER	Cal. Health & Safety Code §§ 12500 - 12728; Cal. Code Regs. tit. 19 §§ 975 - 1053; Cal. Dept. of Forestry & Fire Protection, 2015 State Approved Safe & Sane Fireworks.