4th of July Fireworks in Georgetown: What's Legal, What's Not

The 4th of July holiday is fast approaching, and that means barbecue, beer and, of course, fireworks. But what are the actual laws in Georgetown when it comes to what fireworks you can set off?

Not surprisingly, laws are quite strict in such a densely populated location as Georgetown.

The District bans firecrackers "of any kind of description," as well as any firework that explodes like cherry bombs or Roman candles, according to a Metropolitan Police Department statement.

Fireworks that move after the piece is placed and fired are also banned, which would eliminate bottle rockets and pinwheels, for example.

Not even sparklers are safe from a ban: if they're more than 20 inches in length, they're not allowed either.

Additionally, fireworks that contain the following substances are not allowed in D.C.: mercury, arsenic, tetryl, phosporous, sulphocyanide, magnesium, potassium picrate, gallic acid, chlorate of potash and sugar, or any highly oxidizing agent.

Fireworks that have side fuses are also banned.

So what is allowed? It's a pretty limited list.

Sparklers that are no longer than 20 inches are allowed, as are torches and cones. Box fires, fountains, dip-sticks and non-poisonous snakes are allowed as well.

The D.C. code also permits toy paper caps that contain no more than 0.25 of a grain of explosive composition per cap.

You can also use paper novelty items and colored lights.

Image via National Park Service