Fireworks in Oshawa: Tell us what you think!

The City of Oshawa invites you to share your thoughts and ideas on three options to amend its Fireworks By-Law.

The Fireworks By-Law regulates the use and sale of Consumer Fireworks and Display Fireworks and Special Effect Pyrotechnics in Oshawa.

The City is re-examining the Fireworks By-Law with respect to Consumer Fireworks in an effort to strike a balance between preserving the joy of fireworks and ensuring safety and consideration for everyone.

Consumer Fireworks are low hazard fireworks classified under type F.1 in the Government of Canada’s Explosives Regulations, and are generally used for recreation. Examples of Consumer Fireworks include but are not limited to roman candles, sparklers, fountains, wheels, volcanoes, and snakes.

Three options are being considered related to Consumer Fireworks:

• Option A – Enhanced enforcement of the Fireworks By-Law before and after permitted holidays, including when the sale and discharge of fireworks are permitted.
• Option B – Restricting the use of Consumer Fireworks during permitted holidays to a limited number of City parks based on criteria developed by City parks staff.
• Option C – City-wide prohibition on sale and discharge of Consumer Fireworks

Have your Say

Feedback can be provided online on Connect Oshawa (ConnectOshawa.ca/Fireworks) or on paper at Service Oshawa, located at City Hall (50 Centre St. S.).

Feedback will be received until noon on Friday, November 3, 2023 and will help inform proposed amendments to the Fireworks By-law that will be presented to the Safety and Facilities Services Committee.

About the Fireworks By-Law

Under the Fireworks By-Law, community members can discharge Consumer Fireworks on their private property without a permit, between dusk and 11 p.m. on Victoria Day, Canada Day and the celebration known as Diwali Day.

The discharge of fireworks is not allowed on any other days and not on any private property without obtaining a Fireworks Discharge Permit or without obtaining the written authorization of the legal owner of the property, including into, in or on any highway, street, lane, square, park or other public place.

The sale of fireworks is restricted to the seven (7) days immediately prior to and on the permitted statutory holidays. Additional restrictions include prohibiting the sale of fireworks to anyone under the age of 18, prohibiting the sale of prohibited fireworks and prohibiting the sale of Consumer Fireworks from a Temporary Sales Unit without having obtained a Fireworks Sales Permit.

More information is available on the City’s Fireworks webpage.

For City of Oshawa updates, visit Oshawa.ca/NewsCentre to follow us on social media, subscribe to news and alerts, and have your say on Connect Oshawa.