You can set off fireworks on your private property until 11 p.m. on Victoria Day and Canada Day. You will need a permit to set off fireworks on all other days. Be safe when setting off fireworks in your backyard and dispose of used or unused fireworks correctly.
Fireworks are not allowed in parks or on beaches. You are also not allowed to set off fireworks in a street, a parking lot, on a balcony, or on any private property that is not your own.
Download a poster on fireworks rules and safety tips which can be displayed in stores and residential buildings. A Fireworks Safety pamphlet is also available for residents.
The Fireworks Bylaw prohibits the sale and discharge of any prohibited fireworks, including smoke bombs, exploding matches, exploding golf balls, stink bombs and fake firecrackers. The complete list of prohibited fireworks is available in the bylaw.
Contact 311 to report the use of fireworks in a City park or beach, and possible misuse of fireworks. Please note that bylaw enforcement officers are not emergency responders, do not respond to complaints on an emergency basis and do not have the authority to immediately stop events.
Consumer fireworks include low hazard fireworks for recreation, such as fireworks showers, fountains, golden rain, lawn lights, pinwheels, Roman candles, volcanoes, sparklers and other similar devices.
You are allowed to set off consumer fireworks on your private property without a permit and only until 11 p.m. on Victoria Day (May 20, 2024) and Canada Day (July 1).
You will need a permit from Toronto Fire Services to set off fireworks on all other days. When a permit is issued, you will not be authorized to discharge fireworks past 11 p.m. To request a permit, contact tfs_events@toronto.ca or 416-338-5340. Under the Fireworks Bylaw, you may be fined $1000 for setting off consumer fireworks without a permit on days other than Victoria Day or Canada Day.
Possession and discharge of fireworks are not allowed in parks and on beaches. You are also not allowed to set off fireworks in a street, a parking lot or on any private property that is not your own. Under the Parks Bylaw, you may be fined $600 for possessing or setting off fireworks in a park or beach.
Always be aware of your surroundings when using fireworks. Do not discharge fireworks where it may be a nuisance or pose a risk of fire, injury or damage to any person or property.
Fireworks have the potential to cause serious injury. Toronto Fire Services recommends that families visit a community fireworks presentation conducted by a professional fireworks display company.
If you are hosting your own backyard fireworks display, make sure you have the proper sized yard and that there are no buildings or trees nearby.
Fireworks should be handled and supervised by adults 18 years of age or older. Children and those under 18 years old are not permitted to discharge fireworks.
Always read and follow the directions on the manufacturer’s label for the fireworks you purchase. This will include information on how far away the spectators need to be so that everyone can stay safe.
Take the time to prepare, protect and prevent: prepare for a safe display, protect all and prevent fireworks accidents. The following list of safety tips is for adults hosting their own backyard fireworks event.
When fireworks are discharged, pets can become scared of the booming sounds and flashing colors and may run away from familiar people and places. Here are some simple safety tips to protect your pets:
It is important to safely dispose of fireworks. Improper disposal of fireworks can cause fires in waste collection vehicles and at facilities. Never put used or unused fireworks in the Blue Bin (recycling).
To dispose of used or unused fireworks, completely submerge the fireworks in water and soak them overnight. Dispose of them in your Garbage Bin.
Dispose of used or unused fireworks in small quantities in your Garbage Bin – up to 10 items at a time. Additional quantities of fireworks should be placed in the Garbage Bin over separate garbage collection dates.
Lighters with fuel must be disposed of as household hazardous waste.
Victoria Day and Canada Day both fall during nesting season. Fireworks can have negative consequences for Toronto’s birds and their hatchlings. Fireworks can:
What can you do?
Learn more about birds and wildlife in Toronto.
Residents can contact 311 to submit complaints about fireworks. If there is a complaint or information about a possible violation, bylaw enforcement officers investigate, educate and/or take enforcement actions.
Please note that bylaw enforcement officers are not emergency responders, do not respond to complaints on an emergency basis and do not have the authority to immediately stop events.
The goal is to resolve issues and ensure that residents and business are following bylaws. Each issue is addressed on case-by-case basis to make sure reasonable, fair and appropriate actions are taken. For example, in some cases the issue may be resolved through education. In other cases, further enforcement action may be required.
If a resident or business does not comply with the Fireworks Bylaw or the Parks Bylaw, they are guilty of an offence. If they are issued a ticket and convicted, they may have to pay a fine for the offence set out in the table below.
| Offence | Bylaw Provision | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Possess (fire crackers/rockets/fireworks) in park | 608-5 | $600.00 |
| (Ignite/Discharge/Setoff) (fire crackers/rockets/fireworks) in park | 608-5 | $600.00 |
| Offence | Bylaw Provision | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Discharge of firecrackers | 466-4E | $1,000.00 |
| Discharge of prohibited fireworks | 466-4F | $1,000.00 |
| Discharge consumer fireworks without a permit on day other than Canada Day or Victoria Day | 466-5A | $1,000.00 |
| Discharge consumer fireworks after 11:00 p.m. on Victoria Day or Canada Day | 466-5A(1) | $700.00 |
| Discharge consumer fireworks after 11:00 p.m. on designated day for Victoria Day or Canada Day | 466-5B(1) | $700.00 |
| Discharge consumer fireworks in, on, into building/structure/motor vehicle | 466-5C(1) | $700.00 |
| Discharge consumer fireworks on or into highway/street/lane/square/public park/other public space | 466-5C(2) | $700.00 |
| Discharge consumer fireworks within 100 metres of explosives/gasoline/flammable substances | 466-5C(3) | $1,000.00 |
| Discharge consumer fireworks on any land not belonging to the person discharging the fireworks, or on other private property without prior written consent of the owner | 466-5C(4) | $700.00 |
| Discharge consumer fireworks in manner that may create a nuisance/unsafe condition/risk of fire/injury or damage to person or property | 466-5C(5) | $700.00 |
| Discharge consumer fireworks without fully operational fire extinguishing equipment | 466-5D | $700.00 |
| Permit discharge of fireworks on property without permit | 466-6A(1) | $700.00 |
| Misrepresent ownership/occupancy of lands to facilitate obtaining fireworks discharge permit | 466-6B | $700.00 |
| Being a parent/guardian of a minor and allowing the minor to discharge fireworks | 466-6D | $1,000.00 |
| Discharge fireworks in a manner contrary to manufacturer’s instructions | 466-6E | $700.00 |
| Failure to comply with a condition of a fireworks discharge permit | 466-8L | $700.00 |
| Discharge of display fireworks without a display fireworks discharge permit | 466-9A | $1,000.00 |
| Discharge display fireworks without qualification as fireworks supervisor | 466-9B | $700.00 |
| Discharge display fireworks without complying with conditions in display fireworks discharge permit | 466-9C(1) | $700.00 |
| Discharge display fireworks without taking steps to prevent harm to persons/property | 466-9C(2) | $700.00 |
| Discharge display fireworks without fire extinguishers which are in accordance with display fireworks manual | 466-9C(4) | $700.00 |
| Discharge display fireworks without ensuring persons are kept at a safe distance in accordance with display fireworks manual | 466-9C(5) | $700.00 |
| Discharge display fireworks without producing fireworks discharge permit as required | 466-9C(6) | $700.00 |
| Fail to remove fireworks and debris after discharge of display fireworks | 466-9C(7)(a) | $600.00 |
| Fail to restore site after discharge of display fireworks | 466-9C(7)(b) | $600.00 |
| Discharge display fireworks without display fireworks discharge permit | 466-10A | $1,000.00 |
| Discharge special effect pyrotechnics without a special effect pyrotechnics discharge permit | 466-11A | $1,000.00 |
| Discharge special effect pyrotechnics without fireworks operator qualification | 466-11B | $700.00 |
| Discharge special effect pyrotechnics without complying with conditions of special effect pyrotechnics discharge permit | 466-11C(1) | $700.00 |
| Discharge special effect pyrotechnics without taking steps to prevent harm to persons/property | 466-11C(2) | $700.00 |
| Discharge special effect pyrotechnics without fire extinguishers which are in accordance with pyrotechnic special effects manual | 466-11C(4) | $700.00 |
| Discharge special effect pyrotechnics without ensuring persons are kept at a safe distance in accordance with pyrotechnics special effects manual | 466-11C(5) | $700.00 |
| Discharge special effect pyrotechnics without producing fireworks discharge permit as required | 466-11C(6) | $700.00 |
| Fail to remove fireworks and debris after discharge of special effect pyrotechnics | 466-11C(7) | $700.00 |
| Fail to restore site after discharge of special effect pyrotechnics | 466-11C(7)(b) | $700.00 |
| Discharge special effect pyrotechnics without a special effect pyrotechnics discharge permit | 466-12A | $1,000.00 |
| Failure/refusal to comply with law enforcement officer request for document/thing/information | 466-17B(3) | $1,000.00 |
| Failure to comply with an order | 466-17I(1) | $1,000.00 |