Utah Fireworks Injuries and Fires: Legal Dates, Who Is Liable, and Wildfire Costs
General information, not legal advice. Read the full disclaimer.
Short answer: Utah restricts when fireworks can be discharged. Under Utah Code § 53-7-225, "division 1.4G common state approved explosive" fireworks may be discharged only 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (to midnight on July 4 and July 24) on July 2–5 and July 22–25, from 11 a.m. December 31 to 1 a.m. January 1, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. on January 1, and on Chinese New Year's eve. Discharging outside those times or in a closed area is an infraction with a fine of up to $1,000. Cities and the state forester may close areas with hazardous conditions, and a city or county may prohibit the negligent discharge of fireworks. A person who negligently, recklessly or intentionally causes or spreads a wildland fire is liable for the cost of suppressing it (§ 65A-3-4). If fireworks injure you or burn your property, ordinary negligence and product liability claims may apply.
Who this guide is for
Utah residents hurt by fireworks around July 4 and Pioneer Day (July 24), neighbors whose property burned, and people who want to understand legal discharge rules and liability.
Legal sale and discharge dates (per § 53-7-225)
| Activity | Dates and times |
|---|---|
| Sale | June 24 – July 25; December 29 – 31; and two days before and on Chinese New Year's eve (some exceptions for out-of-state online sales and certain buyers) |
| Discharge — summer | 11 a.m.–11 p.m. on July 2–5 and July 22–25 (until midnight on July 4 and July 24) |
| Discharge — New Year | 11 a.m. December 31 – 1 a.m. January 1; 11 a.m.–11 p.m. January 1 |
| Chinese New Year's eve | 11 a.m. until 1 a.m. the following day |
A person who discharges outside these dates and times, or in a prohibited area, commits an infraction punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 (§ 53-7-225(4)). Retailers must post signs of the legal dates and times and associated fines.
Local closures and negligent discharge
- Hazardous-condition closures. Under the fire code amendments in § 15A-5-202.5, a municipality can prohibit fireworks in mountainous, brush- or forest-covered or dry-grass areas, within 200 feet of waterways, trails, canyons and similar areas, and the wildland-urban interface; the state forester can do so in unincorporated areas. Closures based on historical hazards need maps and findings, and counties publish a countywide map of closed areas.
- Negligent discharge. A municipality may prohibit the negligent discharge of fireworks, and a county may too (§ 53-7-225(5)(b)). The statute defines "negligent discharge" as the improper use and discharge of the explosive, not the date or location.
Wildfire cost liability
Section 65A-3-4 says a person who negligently, recklessly or intentionally causes or spreads a wildland fire is liable for the cost of suppressing that fire, whether it starts on private, state, federal or tribal land. That exposure comes on top of property damage claims by neighbors.
Injury and property damage claims
- Negligence. Setting off fireworks unsafely, near people or structures, in dry conditions or while impaired can support a negligence claim for burns, eye injuries, hearing loss and property damage. A violation of the date, time or closure rules is evidence a claimant will point to.
- Defective fireworks. If a firework malfunctioned (a mortar tipped, an early detonation), product liability may apply. The deadline is two years from discovering the harm and its cause (§ 78B-6-706). See Utah's Product Liability Act Explained and Utah Defective Product Claims: Evidence.
- Property owners and hosts. A host or property owner who allows dangerous use may face premises or negligence claims. See Utah Slip and Fall and Premises Liability Claims.
- Children. Minors' claims have tolling rules but parents' own claims and government deadlines don't. See Utah Injury Claims for Children.
- Insurance. Homeowner's and renter's policies may respond to a fire or liability claim; read the policy and notify the insurer promptly. See Utah Insurance Claim Deadlines and Response Times.
- Government. If a fireworks display was run by a city or other public entity, notice-of-claim rules apply. See How to File a Notice of Claim Against a Utah Government Entity.
After a fireworks injury or fire
- Get emergency medical care and call 911 for fires.
- Preserve evidence: photos, video, any unexploded fireworks, packaging, and the receipt.
- Report to law enforcement or the fire department.
- Document damage and tell your insurer.
- Don't discard the product.
Frequently asked questions
When can I legally set off fireworks in Utah?
Per § 53-7-225, July 2–5 and 22–25 (11 a.m.–11 p.m., midnight on July 4 and 24), New Year's, and Chinese New Year's eve, outside closed areas.
What is the penalty for illegal discharge?
An infraction with a fine of up to $1,000.
Can I be charged for the cost of putting out a fire?
A person who negligently, recklessly or intentionally causes or spreads a wildland fire is liable for suppression costs.
Can I sue over a fireworks injury?
Possibly, under negligence or product liability, depending on the facts.