Do you need a licence for a firework display?

Question

If you have a fiework display, advertised to the general public, and you charge an admission fee, do you need a lincence?

Answer 1

You'll need a lot more than that...

I'm not sure where you are writing from, but I am a professional licensed Pyrotechnician in Washington State, USA.

In general, you will not be able to charge admission for a fireworks display itself, but you can charge admission to something like a grandstand for people to sit. But that doesn't stop anyone from parking in the field behind the shoot site and watching the show from there. That is only the beginning of your troubles.

Now: The moment you decide to put on a fireworks show for "public" display (and not just backyard fireworks for your family), it gets very expensive and very complicated quickly. It doesn't matter the size of the fireworks or how many people come to the show. If you ran around with a sparkler for the general public you would need to follow the rules below:

First and foremost you will need an Insurance certificate for (generally) at least 1 million dollars coverage, and some shows we shoot will demand a 10 million dollar policy.

You will need a State permit, a Federal permit, a DOT (Department of Transportation) Haz Mat (Hazardous Materials) Commercial Driver's License to transport the materials, a special DOT Haz Mat insurance certificate, a City or County permit, a contract for an Ambulance and Fire trucks to be at the event, etc., etc., etc. If you want to fire you're devices you will need a license, fingerprinting and TSA / FBI background checks, safety classes for yourself and crew.

In short, when we do a public display fireworks show, there are generally about 20 to 26 permits, fees, and insurance certificates that must be procured. And a final inspection by the local fire chief must be made before showtime as well. About 30% of the cost of the show will be for fireworks, all the rest of the money will go towards permits, fees and insurance.

You could try to do this illegally, but you'll get away with it for about 3 or 5 minutes, and the State and Feds don't take too kindly to these ideas, especially with all the new 9/11 - Homeland Security rules.

If you asked this question, then you probably should do a lot more research before putting on a fireworks show. There will be local professional fireworks companies who can help you out in your local area.

If you are a hobbyist, consider joining the Pyrotechnics Guild (www.pgi.org) or consider joining up as a crew member with a local Fireworks company, and learn fireworks firsthand from professionals. Some of the videos and instructions on the 'Net are absolute dangerous garbage.

Answer 2

You need one even if it is free. You need one to set them off. The vehicle they are transported in also needs the proper signs posted on the outside.