The City is reviewing the current Fireworks By-law PW11 which regulates the use and sale of fireworks in London.
Did you know the by-law states that fireworks can only be discharged to celebrate
Victoria Day and Canada Day, and only between dusk and 11 p.m.?
Any other dates during the year require a permit.
Where we are in the review
A report including community feedback, a review of other local municipal policies, and possible options for Council to consider was presented to the Community and Protective Services Committee on June 13, 2023.
View the report (pdf)
Proposed options for consideration
Civic Administration has drafted two proposed options for Council to consider and the public to comment on at a future public participation meeting:
Option A - would allow for consumer (backyard) fireworks to be discharged on Canada Day and Victoria Day only. This means that dates prior to or preceding Canada Day would no longer be allowed for discharge. In addition, this option would also allow for consumer (backyard) fireworks to be discharged on Diwali. Option A would also decrease the number of days allowed to sell fireworks from seven to five days and propose an increase to current fines.
Option B - would allow for permitted display fireworks only to be discharged (which has traditionally included Canada Day, Victoria Day, Diwali, and New Years Eve) in London. This option would ban all consumer (backyard) fireworks, ban the sale of consumer fireworks in London, and propose an increase to current fines.
The chart below highlights the key differences for each option:
Option A | Option B |
Display Fireworks:
- Display fireworks would be allowed by permit.
- Traditionally in London, this includes Victoria Day, Canada Day, Diwali, and New Years Eve, but could include other days.
- Inclement weather consideration be given for display fireworks only.
| Display Fireworks:
- Display fireworks would be allowed by permit.
- Traditionally in London, this includes Victoria Day, Canada Day, Diwali, and New Years Eve, but could include other days.
- Inclement weather consideration be given for display fireworks.
|
Consumer (Backyard) Fireworks: - Consumer fireworks would be allowed on Victoria Day, Canada Day and Diwali for a total of 3 days.
- Discharge time between dusk and11:00 pm.
| Consumer (Backyard) Fireworks: - No consumer (backyard) fireworks allowed to be discharged.
|
Sale of Fireworks: - Sale of fireworks would be allowed 5 days prior to an allowed event.
| Sale of Fireworks: - No consumer fireworks to be sold in London.
|
Enforcement of Fireworks By-Law: - Municipal Law Enforcement Officers would enforce the discharge of fireworks outside of allowable times and noise due to fireworks discharge.
- London Fire Department would respond to and enforce fires/ explosions related to fireworks, unsafe discharge, and storage of fireworks.
- London Fire Department would issue all display fireworks permits and provide on-site inspection for display fireworks.
- An increase to the current municipal fines is recommended.
| Enforcement of Fireworks By-Law: - Municipal Law Enforcement Officers would enforce the discharge of consumer fireworks, the noise due to fireworks discharge, and the ban on the sale of consumer fireworks in London.
- LFD would respond to and enforce fires/ explosions related to fireworks, unsafe discharge, and storage of fireworks.
- LFD would issue all display fireworks permits and provide on-site inspection for display fireworks.
- An increase to the current municipal fines is recommended.
|
The Community and Protective Services Committee held a Public Participation Meeting on August 15, 2023, to receive delegations and their comments regarding the consideration of amendments to the Fireworks By-law in consideration to add regulations that address days/dates to discharge fireworks; and regulations on the sale of fireworks.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Civic Administration was directed to report back at a future meeting of the CPSC committee with a proposed by-law to implement Fireworks By-law Option A, as outlined above and in the staff report. In addition, Civic Administration was directed to review the Business Licensing By-Law with respect to the sale of fireworks and report back to the Community and Protective Services Committee on the following: licensing all retailers of fireworks, communications to retailers and clients, fees, Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPS) and compliance measures.
Final steps
Based on this direction, Civic Administration will draft a revised Fireworks By-law for consideration at a future Community and Protective Services Committee meeting. It is intended that a new By-law be in place in the first quarter of 2024.
While this work is underway, we continue to respond and educate the community on the safe discharge of fireworks and the municipal by-law that remains in full effect.
The City is reviewing the current Fireworks By-law PW11 which regulates the use and sale of fireworks in London.
Did you know the by-law states that fireworks can only be discharged to celebrate
Victoria Day and Canada Day, and only between dusk and 11 p.m.?
Any other dates during the year require a permit.
Where we are in the review
A report including community feedback, a review of other local municipal policies, and possible options for Council to consider was presented to the Community and Protective Services Committee on June 13, 2023.
View the report (pdf)
Proposed options for consideration
Civic Administration has drafted two proposed options for Council to consider and the public to comment on at a future public participation meeting:
Option A - would allow for consumer (backyard) fireworks to be discharged on Canada Day and Victoria Day only. This means that dates prior to or preceding Canada Day would no longer be allowed for discharge. In addition, this option would also allow for consumer (backyard) fireworks to be discharged on Diwali. Option A would also decrease the number of days allowed to sell fireworks from seven to five days and propose an increase to current fines.
Option B - would allow for permitted display fireworks only to be discharged (which has traditionally included Canada Day, Victoria Day, Diwali, and New Years Eve) in London. This option would ban all consumer (backyard) fireworks, ban the sale of consumer fireworks in London, and propose an increase to current fines.
The chart below highlights the key differences for each option:
Option A | Option B |
Display Fireworks:
- Display fireworks would be allowed by permit.
- Traditionally in London, this includes Victoria Day, Canada Day, Diwali, and New Years Eve, but could include other days.
- Inclement weather consideration be given for display fireworks only.
| Display Fireworks:
- Display fireworks would be allowed by permit.
- Traditionally in London, this includes Victoria Day, Canada Day, Diwali, and New Years Eve, but could include other days.
- Inclement weather consideration be given for display fireworks.
|
Consumer (Backyard) Fireworks: - Consumer fireworks would be allowed on Victoria Day, Canada Day and Diwali for a total of 3 days.
- Discharge time between dusk and11:00 pm.
| Consumer (Backyard) Fireworks: - No consumer (backyard) fireworks allowed to be discharged.
|
Sale of Fireworks: - Sale of fireworks would be allowed 5 days prior to an allowed event.
| Sale of Fireworks: - No consumer fireworks to be sold in London.
|
Enforcement of Fireworks By-Law: - Municipal Law Enforcement Officers would enforce the discharge of fireworks outside of allowable times and noise due to fireworks discharge.
- London Fire Department would respond to and enforce fires/ explosions related to fireworks, unsafe discharge, and storage of fireworks.
- London Fire Department would issue all display fireworks permits and provide on-site inspection for display fireworks.
- An increase to the current municipal fines is recommended.
| Enforcement of Fireworks By-Law: - Municipal Law Enforcement Officers would enforce the discharge of consumer fireworks, the noise due to fireworks discharge, and the ban on the sale of consumer fireworks in London.
- LFD would respond to and enforce fires/ explosions related to fireworks, unsafe discharge, and storage of fireworks.
- LFD would issue all display fireworks permits and provide on-site inspection for display fireworks.
- An increase to the current municipal fines is recommended.
|
The Community and Protective Services Committee held a Public Participation Meeting on August 15, 2023, to receive delegations and their comments regarding the consideration of amendments to the Fireworks By-law in consideration to add regulations that address days/dates to discharge fireworks; and regulations on the sale of fireworks.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Civic Administration was directed to report back at a future meeting of the CPSC committee with a proposed by-law to implement Fireworks By-law Option A, as outlined above and in the staff report. In addition, Civic Administration was directed to review the Business Licensing By-Law with respect to the sale of fireworks and report back to the Community and Protective Services Committee on the following: licensing all retailers of fireworks, communications to retailers and clients, fees, Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPS) and compliance measures.
Final steps
Based on this direction, Civic Administration will draft a revised Fireworks By-law for consideration at a future Community and Protective Services Committee meeting. It is intended that a new By-law be in place in the first quarter of 2024.
While this work is underway, we continue to respond and educate the community on the safe discharge of fireworks and the municipal by-law that remains in full effect.
