A display of fireworks in the Price Chopper on Hoosick Road in Brunswick, N.Y. Fireworks such as sparklers are on sale in New York state for set periods each year, including leading up to the July 4th weekend. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
ALBANY — While the July 4th weekend is likely to be filled with plenty of fireworks displays, both legal and otherwise, the state does have rules on what type of pyrotechnics people can legally buy and use for their own celebrations. And some counties have banned the sale or use of those fireworks since they were legalized in 2015. Here’s what you need to know to set off legal fireworks.
New York only allows the sale and private use of what are typically known as “sparklers,” which are handheld or ground-based devices that produce colored sparks or flames, typically with a crackling or whistling noise. And the law says retailers can only sell devices that have between 1 and 500 grams of pyrotechnic composition.
The law also allows individual counties to ban the sale and use of sparklers. In the Capital Region, Albany, Columbia, Schenectady and Warren counties have enacted bans.
Those counties that moved to ban sparkler-style fireworks did so in response to residents' complaints about the effect fireworks had on pets, veterans, those with PTSD and other issues. In 2020, the city of Albany and others saw a huge increase in the number of calls to law enforcement for fireworks. However, many of the complaints were likely in response to fireworks that were already and have remained illegal in New York state.
In the Capital Region, sparkler-type fireworks can be sold in Saratoga, Rensselaer, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Schoharie and Washington counties. The state provides a list of authorized retailers in those counties, which includes many grocery stores.
Legal sparklers can only be purchased from permanent and specialty retailers between June 1 and July 5 and then between Dec. 26 and Jan. 2. The state also allows sales by temporary retailers between June 20 and July 5 and Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.
All other types of fireworks, including firecrackers, bottle rockets, roman candles, spinners, and aerial devices, are illegal statewide. And if you’d rather see some bigger booms, here’s where to see some of the region’s best fireworks this weekend.
Steve covers the city and county of Albany for the Times Union. He previously covered police, fire and accidents as the paper's breaking news reporter. Reach him at shughes@timesunion.com or 518-454-5438.