FIREWORKS

Glendale City Code ch. 26, art. III, div. 5

in effect

Glendale City Code § 26-70.1 Purpose.

Sec. 26-70.1. - Purpose. The city council hereby recognizes that the desert environment of Arizona has unique fire risks and adopts this division to enhance the public safety and welfare of its citizens and the community by prohibiting the use of fireworks within the city. (Ord. No. 017-18, § 1, 5-9-17)

Glendale City Code § 26-70.2 Definitions.

Sec. 26-70.2. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: City permit: A permit issued by the city fire chief or designee. Display fireworks: Those fireworks defined by A.R.S. § 36-1601. Expenses of an emergency response: The reasonable costs directly incurred by public agencies including but not limited to the city fire, police and public works departments or other first responders including but not limited to private ambulance companies that make an appropriate emergency response to an incident. Fireworks: Display fireworks, consumer fireworks and permissible consumer fireworks as defined by A.R.S. § 36-1601. Novelty items: Federally deregulated novelty items that are known as snappers, snap caps, party poppers, glow worms, snakes, toy smoke devices and sparklers. Permissible consumer fireworks: Those fireworks as defined by A.R.S. § 36-1601 that may be sold within a municipality even where the use of those items has been prohibited. Reasonable costs: The costs of providing police, fire fighting, clean-up, rescue and emergency medical services at the scene of an incident and the salaries of the persons who respond to the incident. Supervised show: A monitored performance of display fireworks open to the public authorized by city permit. (Ord. No. 017-18, § 1, 5-9-17)

Glendale City Code § 26-70.3 Use of fireworks.

Sec. 26-70.3. - Use of fireworks. (a) The use of permissible consumer fireworks within the city is prohibited except on May 4 through May 6, June 24 through July 6, and December 26 through January 4, and the second and third days of Diwali of each year. (b) No person shall sell, possess, authorize or manufacture consumer or display fireworks unless authorized by state law or city permit. (c) The use of fireworks on public or city property is prohibited at all times. (d) Nothing in this section or division shall be construed to prohibit the use of novelty items or the carrying out of a supervised show or possession of display fireworks authorized by city permit. (Ord. No. 017-18, § 1, 5-9-17; Ord. No. O25-08, § 1, 1-28-25)

Glendale City Code § 26-70.4 Sale of fireworks.

Sec. 26-70.4. - Sale of fireworks. (a) No person shall sell or permit or authorize the sale of permissible consumer fireworks to a person who is under sixteen (16) years of age. (b) No person shall sell or permit or authorize the sale of permissible consumer fireworks in conflict with state law. (c) No person shall sell, possess, authorize or manufacture consumer or display fireworks unless authorized by state law or city permit. (Ord. No. 017-18, § 1, 5-9-17)

Glendale City Code § 26-70.5 Posting of signs by persons engaged in the selling of permissible consumer fireworks; civil penalty.

Sec. 26-70.5. - Posting of signs by persons engaged in the selling of permissible consumer fireworks; civil penalty. (a) Prior to the sale of permissible consumer fireworks, every person engaged in the selling of permissible fireworks shall prominently display signs indicating the following: (1) The use of all fireworks, including permissible consumer fireworks as defined under state law, within the city, is prohibited except as authorized by Glendale Municipal Code section 26-70.3. (2) Consumer fireworks authorized for sale under state law may not be sold to persons under the age of sixteen (16). (3) Violations of the Glendale City Code regulating fireworks may result in a mandatory fine of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) for a first offense and two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) for any subsequent offense. (4) Signs shall be posted in English and Spanish. (b) Signs required under this section shall be placed at each cash register and in each area where fireworks are displayed for sale. (c) In accordance with state law, the city fire chief or designee shall develop regulations concerning the size and color of the required signs and develop a model sign. The required sign regulations and model sign shall be posted on the city's website and filed with the city clerk's office. (d) Failure to comply with subsections (a) or (b) above is a civil offense punishable by a minimum fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00). (Ord. No. 017-18, § 1, 5-9-17; Ord. No. O20-83, § 2, 12-8-20)

Glendale City Code § 26-70.6 Authority to enforce violations of this division; means of enforcement.

Sec. 26-70.6. - Authority to enforce violations of this division; means of enforcement. (a) The city fire chief or designee, a Glendale police officer or the city attorney may issue civil complaints to enforce violations of this division designated as civil offenses. (b) Any person authorized pursuant to this section to issue a civil complaint may also issue a notice of violation specifying actions to be taken and the time in which they are to be taken to avoid issuance of a civil or criminal complaint. (c) A Glendale police officer or the city attorney may issue criminal complaints to enforce this division. (Ord. No. 017-18, § 1, 5-9-17)

Glendale City Code § 26-70.7 Penalties.

Sec. 26-70.7. - Penalties. The penalty for violating any prohibition or requirement imposed by this division is a class one misdemeanor with a set fine of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) for a first offense and a two thousand dollar ($2,000.00) fine for any subsequent offenses in the same twelve-month period. (Ord. No. 017-18, § 1, 5-9-17; Ord. No. O20-83, § 3, 12-8-20)

Glendale City Code § 26-70.8 Liability for emergency responses related to use of fireworks.

Sec. 26-70.8. - Liability for emergency responses related to use of fireworks. (a) A person who uses, discharges or ignites fireworks is liable for the expenses of any emergency response that is required by such use, discharge or ignition. The fact that a person is convicted or found responsible for a violation(s) of this division is prima facie evidence of liability under this section. (b) The expenses of an emergency response are a charge against the person liable for those expenses pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. The charge constitutes a debt of that person and may be collected proportionately by the public agencies or other first responders that incurred the expenses. The liability imposed under this section is in addition to and not in limitation of any other liability that may be imposed. (Ord. No. 017-18, § 1, 5-9-17)

Source: City of Glendale, Arizona, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/az/glendale/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH26OFIS_ARTIIIOFAGPUSAOR_DIV5FIFetched: 11/1/2026