MANSFIELD, Ohio – As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, local residents look forward to fireworks displays, and some may be tempted to put on a show of their own. However, not all fireworks purchased in Ohio are legal for use within the state.
Fireworks are divided into classifications: 1.1G, 1.2G and 1.3G fireworks, which are used in outdoor exhibition settings by licensed exhibitors, and 1.4G and 1.4S fireworks, which may be used at either indoor or outdoor displays by licensed exhibitors.
Of those listed, only those classified 1.4G, or consumer fireworks, may be purchased by the public at various retail locations and licensed fireworks showrooms in Ohio. Those fireworks must be transported out of state within 48 hours of purchase, with the exception of those designated “trick and novelty,” which smoke, pop, and/or sparkle.
The use of 1.4G fireworks within the state, such as firecrackers and bottle rockets, is illegal without a specific license or permit.
According to the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal, M80s, M100s, and “quarter sticks,” which many people consider fireworks, are also illegal.
In 1976, the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission determined that no more than 50 milligrams of powder may be used in 1.4G consumer fireworks. Any device that contains more than 50 milligrams of powder, such as many “cherry bombs,” “silver salutes,” M80s, M100s and “quarter sticks” are defined as explosives. It is therefore illegal for consumers to possess these items without a special license and/or permit.
There are significant penalties for those that violate fireworks law. First time offenders can be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor, and may be sentenced to up to six months in jail and fined up to $1,000. Subsequent convictions may result in a fifth-degree felony punishable by a prison term of up to one year, according to the Ohio State Bar Association.
To help Ohio residents better understand the laws pertaining to fireworks, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal has produced a 285 page publication.
