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

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

Not surprisingly, laws are quite strict in such a densely populated location as Washington, D.C.

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:

• Toy paper caps containing not more than twenty-five hundredths (0.25) of a grain of explosive composition per cap
• Sparklers not more than 20 inches (50mm) in length
• Torches, cones
• Box fires, fountains
• Dip-sticks, non-poisonous snakes
• Paper novelty items, colored lights

Pixabay Photo