Livermore Adds 'Social Hosting Provision' To Fireworks Amendment

LIVERMORE, CA — The Livermore City Council recently approved changes to the city’s fireworks ordinance to include a social hosting provision. The new provision, which takes effect June 22, holds a property owner or anyone in charge of hosting a gathering where fireworks are discharged liable for their guests’ actions.

The provision applies even when the guest using the fireworks cannot be identified.

Officers can issue citations of up to $500, and property owners may also be held liable for the costs of the police response.

The city’s previous ordinance only allowed for penalties when fireworks were discharged in the presence of an officer. According to a staff report, the Livermore Police Department received 298 fireworks-related complaints in 2022, and 87 over the July 4th weekend alone. The department was unable to write citations due to the wording of a city ordinance.

Although all possession, sales, and discharging of fireworks are illegal in Livermore, police and firefighters were previously only allowed to seize fireworks “offered or exposed for sale, stored, possessed, transported, or otherwise in violation of this chapter.”

Police said the “offered or exposed” wording prevented them from making arrests, despite police “constantly patrolling the streets.

“Often times, police will go to the general location of the fireworks and the people responsible disperse or no one in the neighborhood can identify who lit the firework. It then becomes more of an opportunity to educate individuals about the use of fireworks rather than write citations,” the Livermore Police Department said in a Facebook post published last summer.

At the time, the city and the LPD issued a joint statement saying that they were assessing various options to allow for better enforcement of fireworks violations.

Under the new amendment, police officers can use their own observations, witness statements and other information to be able to issue citations.

“This ordinance will not eliminate the illegal use of fireworks in the city,” Livermore Police Chief Jeramy Young said in a statement following the approval of the new amendment. “However, it will be an additional tool for law enforcement to deter people from hosting gatherings where fireworks are being discharged and to help keep our community safe. This action was taken to help reduce a common complaint from our community.”

All fireworks, even the “safe and sane” variety that are legal to purchase in Dublin for a specified time frame, remain illegal to sell, possess, or discharge in Livermore. Fireworks purchased in Dublin may only be used at single-family residences in Dublin or four specific local parks, and purchased from approved retailers.

Livermore police said in a statement that they will conduct proactive patrols for illegal fireworks during the 4th of July weekend.