Hilliard to residents: No backyard fireworks
Hilliard residents, like those in neighboring communities such as Dublin, are not permitted to set off consumer-grade fireworks.
A new state law, effective July 1, allows Ohioans to do so but only if local communities do not have local ordinances prohibiting it.
“In light of recent legislation, Hilliard’s law department reviewed city ordinances and has determined our existing laws still preclude the use of consumer-grade fireworks by residents within Hilliard city boundaries,” Phil Hartmann, the city’s law director, said June 24.
David Ball, the city’s director of community relations, said references to fireworks, including those for possession, use, sales and detonation, is referenced in multiple parts of city code and might have contributed to the initial misinterpretation of the impact of the new state law.
In short, existing city law says it is legal for Hilliard residents to possess fireworks but illegal for them to use or detonate them, according to Ball.
Small items such as smoke bombs, sparklers and “poppers” remain legal to use in Hilliard, he said.
City Manager Michelle Crandall said Hilliard’s ordinances prohibiting fireworks are in place for the safety and well-being of the community.
“There are physical dangers associated with fireworks, not only to those detonating them, but to other people, animals and property in the vicinity,” Crandall said.
“Each year, we hear that the noise of neighborhood fireworks causes anxiety and even panic among war veterans and residents’ pets. So, we encourage our community to have a great holiday weekend while being safe and respectful of their neighbors.”
Consideration of additional legislation is not necessary.
“While the city could pass an ordinance opting out of the provisions of the recent state legislation, there is no need to. Our existing ordinances already prohibit firework use,” Hartmann said.
Some cities, such as Dublin, also had existing ordinances prohibiting fireworks, but still took the additional step of enacting legislation.
Governor Mike DeWine signed a fireworks bill into law June 6 that is to allow people to ignite firecrackers, Roman candles and other consumer-grade fireworks on more than 20 days a year.
In communities that do not opt out, H.B. 172 is to allow Ohioans to shoot off fireworks legally, starting July 1, on certain holidays.
Ohio's previous law only permitted consumers to use sparklers and a handful of other pyrotechnics. Consumers were allowed to purchase other fireworks but couldn't legally ignite them in Ohio and were required to take them out of the state within 48 hours.
The new law is to allow adults to use consumer-grade fireworks on private property on more than 20 days, including New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth, Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends and July 3, 4, 5, as well as the three-day weekends bracketing July 4.
Dublin City Council on June 13 unanimously adopted a resolution that reaffirmed its local regulations concerning the use of consumer-grade fireworks in the city limit.
The resolution reaffirmed "the City’s intent to continue to enforce the current code provisions regarding fireworks, including the regulations regarding the sale, possession, discharge, ignition, or explosion of fireworks within the City,” according to a June 7 memo from Dublin City Manager Dana McDaniel to members of Dublin City Council that recommended council's approval of the resolution.
The city of Dublin previously enacted its own regulations regarding fireworks and Resolution 29-22 reaffirms the previously enacted regulations concerning fireworks, according to Lindsay Weisenauer, Dublin’s director of communications and public affairs.
Washington Township Fire Chief Alec O’Connell and Dublin Police Chief Justin Páez recommend that Dublin continue to prohibit the sale of fireworks by unlicensed entities, as well as the discharge, ignition or explosion of fireworks within the city limit, according to the memo from McDaniel that was initiated by Páez and Dublin’s law director, Jennifer Readler.
Resolution 29-22 reads in part, that O’Connell and Páez recommend that Dublin opt out of H.B. 172 and reaffirm the existing ban on the detonation of fireworks in the city limit, and resolves “all provisions of the City of Dublin codified ordinances, including but not limited to Chapter 93… concerning the sale, possession, discharge, ignition, or exploding of fireworks, and all ordinances that regulate noise, disturbance of the peace, and disorderly conduct, will remain in full force and effect regardless of the permissions granted in H.B. 172.”
Other cities that have enacted bans or are considering them include Bexley, Powell, Upper Arlington and Worthington.
Reynoldsburg City Council on June 13 voted to allow fireworks on July 4 only, but because the new rule wasn't approved by emergency, it doesn't take effect until July 15. That means the city would follow state law this year.
The new state law doesn't affect Westerville's ban, according to Christa Dickey, the city's community-affairs director.
For updates on Gahanna's decision, please check online.
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