Those who have purchased fireworks recently and want to shoot them off on the fourth must check the Washington City Ordinance before they do so.

While residents can purchase fireworks in Washington, discharging them within city limits is unlawful; the same applies to Kalona, Riverside, and Wellman. Any illegal discharging of fireworks is considered a simple misdemeanor and can carry a fine of $250.

In Wayland, the use of first-class consumer fireworks is banned. This includes reloadable tubes with aerial shells kits, chasers, helicopters or any aerial spinner, firecrackers, mine and shell devices, missile-type rockets, roman candles, and sky and bottle rockets. Fireworks that are permitted are fountains, flitter and dipped or wire sparklers, smoke devices, wheels, ground spinners, and ground and handheld devices.

Keota’s city code states that no one under 18 shall discharge a consumer firework without parental supervision. Fireworks shall only be discharged on property that the person owns or where consent has been given and shall not be discharged by someone who appears to be intoxicated or under the influence of a drug or narcotic. They are only allowed to be discharged from the hours of 9 a.m.-11 p.m. July 1-7.

For more questions about fireworks legality, please contact your local police department.