Fireworks Laws in Kansas and Missouri
Summertime is full of festive holidays, and many people enjoy celebrating these holidays with fireworks. Although fireworks can be fun, they can also lead to burn injuries and other types of harm. Furthermore, certain fireworks may be illegal depending on when you purchase or use them. To help you and your family stay safe during Fourth of July weekend or any other occasion, the personal injury lawyers at Patterson Legal Group go over fireworks laws in Kansas and Missouri.
Kansas Fireworks Laws
For most of the year, a commercial permit is required to use fireworks in Kansas. However, exceptions are allowed during the Fourth of July weekend. During this time, people may use certain fireworks during certain hours. The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) notes that bottle rockets and M-80 firecrackers are illegal statewide.
Further restrictions on fireworks types may apply, depending on your county’s laws. For example, in Sedgwick County (home to Patterson Legal Group’s Wichita office), “aerial lanterns, commonly referred to as sky lanterns, any rockets mounted on a wire or stick, any device containing such rockets” are illegal. Additionally, fireworks times vary from county to county. In Sedgwick, aerial fireworks may be deployed on July 3-5 from 10:00 a.m. to midnight. “Safe and Sane” fireworks can be used from 10:00 a.m. to midnight, June 27 to July 5, in accordance with state laws.
Missouri Fireworks Laws
Fireworks use in Missouri also requires a commercial permit for most of the year. Consumer use is allowed during certain times, but rules vary from county to county and city to city. For example, St. Joseph city ordinance 16-32 states:
No person shall offer fireworks for sale to individuals before June 20 and after July 10 of the same year, nor before December 20 and after January 2 of the next year, as it shall be defined by the laws of the State of Missouri.
No person shall store, offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at retail, use, explode, discharge, set off, or possess any Class 1.4G fireworks, devices or any device with a report; or any device that discharges a projectile, or any fireworks forbidden for shipment by the Interstate Commerce Commission or any fireworks condemned or prohibited by the Bureau of Explosives, except for the following:
- Sparklers.
- Colored torches.
- Colored fire cones and boxes.
- Nonpoisonous snakes.
- Colored smoke items without report.
- Cones, fountains.
- Pinwheels, spinners and spinners wheels.
- Snappers.
- Caps, as used in toy cap guns.
- Confetti type poppers.
Related: Important Fourth of July Safety Tips
Be Sure to Check Your Local Laws
The rules for fireworks sales and usage can vary wildly, depending on where you live. Some cities and counties have relatively liberal fireworks laws, while others–such as the cities of Gladstone and Grandview in Missouri–do not permit fireworks use within city limits. Patterson Legal Group highly recommends checking your local city and county laws.
Basics of Fireworks Safety
As mentioned above, fireworks can be very dangerous. The Kansas Fire Marshal reported 102 fireworks-related injuries in 2022, with more than half occurring on July 4. The Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) claimed that 324 people went to the hospital for fireworks-related injuries in 2022, with 77% of those injuries happening in the three-week period leading up to Fourth of July weekend.
Although these injuries are unfortunate, many could have been avoided through simple safety measures. Patterson Legal Group’s personal injury attorneys recommend the following fireworks safety tips:
- Do not allow young children to use fireworks.
- Only allow older children to use fireworks when they are supervised by an adult.
- Always have a sober adult in charge. Fireworks should not be handled by anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Follow instructions carefully. Every firework is different, so it’s important to read the instructions on the label prior to lighting it.
- Only use fireworks in a clear, open area away from houses, buildings, trees, and other flammable materials.
- Have a bucket of water nearby to properly extinguish spent fireworks.
- Light one firework at a time and then step back. Never lean over fireworks, hold them in your hand, or point them at another person.
Contact Patterson Legal Group
The team at Patterson Legal Group hopes that your summer holidays are memorable and safe. If you do use fireworks, please be sure to do so legally and follow the safety guidelines above. If you’re injured in a fireworks accident caused by the negligence or recklessness of another party, then contact us for immediate assistance. Our team can find you the medical help you need and do everything possible to make sure that you are compensated for your injuries.
You can reach Patterson Legal Group for a free consultation by phone at (816) 920-0000 and online through our secure contact form or connecting with our LiveChat representatives.
Our team of experienced trial lawyers has recovered more than $250-million in settlements for injury victims in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Additionally, we work under a “no win, no fee” promise, so you will not pay a cent unless a settlement has been recovered on your behalf. Reach out to us today and take the first step towards the settlement that you deserve.
