DENVER — If you haven’t heard them yet, you’re likely going to in the coming days — the Fourth of July is just nine days away, and that means fireworks are back.
So, we checked in with local law enforcement agencies who want to remind you that most fireworks are illegal in Colorado.
And if you're wondering what's allowed and what isn't, you're not alone. So, we did some digging and found the list of illegal fireworks in Colorado includes roman candles, mortars, bottle rockets, firecrackers, M80s and cannons. Essentially, many of the things you can buy in neighboring Wyoming are not permitted in Colorado.
What is legal? We also checked on that and found that fountains, snakes or glow worms, sparklers, ground spinners, illuminating torches and toy tanks and cars are all legal.
As for age restrictions: If you’re under 16, you can’t buy them, but you can use them under adult supervision.
All fireworks are illegal in most metro Denver cities and counties.
Here’s the list, according to the Colorado Legal Defense Group:
Adams County — all fireworks are illegal
Arapahoe County — all fireworks are illegal
Arvada — all fireworks are illegal
Aurora — all fireworks are illegal within city limits
Boulder (city) — illegal to set off fireworks, but possession is permitted other than in city parks, recreation areas, parkways or open spaces
Boulder (county) — varies
Broomfield — sparklers permitted, but other fireworks are illegal
Castle Rock — no fireworks without a permit
Colorado Springs — all fireworks are illegal
Commerce City — all fireworks are illegal within city limits, but some personal fireworks are legal on July 3-4 and New Year’s Eve (see ordinance 2333)
Denver — all fireworks are illegal
Edgewater — all fireworks are illegal
El Paso County — most permissible fireworks are legal
Englewood — snappers and poppers allowed, but illegal to possess or use fireworks that must be lit
Fort Collins — all fireworks are illegal
Fountain — ground spinners, glowworms and sparklers are allowed, but all other fireworks are illegal
Golden — all fireworks are illegal within city limits
Greenwood Village — all fireworks illegal within city limits
Jefferson County — all fireworks are illegal
Lafayette — all fireworks are illegal
Lakewood — all fireworks are illegal
Larimer County — all fireworks are illegal
Littleton — all fireworks are illegal
Louisville — all fireworks are illegal
Morrison — all fireworks are illegal
Northglenn — all fireworks are illegal
Parker — fireworks illegal due to fire ban
Severance — all fireworks are illegal
Sheridan — all fireworks are illegal
Thornton — all other fireworks illegal within city limits
Vail — all fireworks are illegal
Westminster — fireworks that do not violate state law allowed between midnight July 3 and noon on July 5
Wheat Ridge — all fireworks are illegal
Windsor — all fireworks are illegal
Possession of illegal fireworks in Colorado could include up to 10 days in jail and/or up to $300 in fines.
Here’s the list of Colorado communities along the Front Range where fireworks are permitted, according to the Colorado Legal Defense Group:
- Brighton
- Castle Pines
- Centennial
- Firestone
- Frederick
- Greeley
- Larkspur
- Lone Tree
- Loveland
- Pueblo