COLORADO, USA — Fireworks on the Fourth of July are a staple of summer and a fun way to celebrate with the family, but it's important to have fun in a safe and legal way.
Any type of firework that leaves the ground is illegal in Colorado. However, depending on where you live, there may be certain types that are legal like sparklers, snakes and fountains.
9NEWS has compiled a list of "fireworks rules" for locations around the Denver metro area.
RELATED | Keeping your pets calm during fireworks
Adams County (unincorporated)
The county does not have any ordinances that are more restrictive than the state laws. However, many cities in Adams County have adopted their own ordinance and restrictions.
Any fireworks that explode or leave the ground are illegal. This includes: cherry bombs, Roman candles, firecrackers, bottle rockets, shells and rockets, M-80s and M-100s and helicopters.
Items that are legal include: cylindrical or cone fountains, wheel and ground spinners, illuminating torches and colored fire, dipped sticks and sparklers, toy propellant or toy smoke devices, trick noise makers and snakes or glow worms.
Fireworks can't be possessed or used by children under the age of 16 without direct adult supervision.
Arapahoe County (unincorporated)
If it leaves the ground or explodes, it’s not legal in Arapahoe County. That means no firecrackers, bottle rockets, lady fingers, mortars and roman candles. These are legal to use: fountains, wheels, sparklers, snakes and ground spinners.
The possession and use of any firework (including sparklers) is illegal. A hotline will be available to report fireworks violations from July 1 to July 6. The Arvada Police Department will enforce fireworks violations and ticket all people in possession of fireworks and all fireworks will be confiscated.
The sale, possession and use of certain fireworks is legal in Aurora. Fireworks can be purchased and used in Aurora only from June 15 to July 4. Fireworks that leave the ground are not allowed.
Examples of allowed fireworks are fountains, wheels, sparklers, snakes and ground spinners. Examples of prohibited fireworks are firecrackers, bottle rockets, lady fingers, mortars, and roman candles.
Any fireworks that leave the ground or explode are illegal.
Most common fireworks are legal, with the exception of those items that fly through the air, explode, or emit projectiles. Fireworks that explode, leave the ground, fly through the air, or emit flaming projectiles are illegal. Those include Roman candles, pop bottle rockets, firecrackers, Cherry bombs and M-80s
Legal items include fountains, ground spinners (some crackle and pop), smoke bombs, sparklers, small toy cars/tanks with pyrotechnics/glow worms.
Sparklers, trick matches, cigarette loads, trick noisemakers, toy smoke devices, and novelty auto alarms are allowed in Broomfield. Also, toy caps which do not contain more than twenty-five hundredths of a grain of explosive compound per cap.
Everything else is illegal.
Only fireworks purchased at stands in Castle Rock are legal and only on July 4.
Fireworks that leave the ground, explode, or break off into pieces are not allowed. It is unlawful for anyone under 16 to purchase fireworks.
Centennial residents may use and possess certain "permissible fireworks," limited only to those that do not explode, leave the ground or fly through the air.
Sparklers, cones, snakes and fountains are allowed. The sale of all forms of fireworks in Centennial continues to be prohibited. The use and possession of all forms of fireworks are prohibited in parks and open spaces in Centennial.
All types of fireworks with a fuse and/or requiring a flame for ignition are illegal in Colorado Springs. Only novelty items (snappers and poppers) are allowed. To report the use of fireworks in your neighborhood, call the non-emergency dispatch line at 719-444-7000.
Individuals are not allowed to possess, make, use, or sell fireworks – even small sparklers – within Commerce City limits or in city parks.
Substantial fines and even jail time are possible consequences for violators of the fireworks ban. To report the use of fireworks in your neighborhood, call the non-emergency dispatch line at 303-288-1535.
Permissible fireworks: Cylindrical or cone fountains, wheels and ground spinners, illuminating torches and colored fire, dipped sticks and sparklers, toy propellant or toy smoke devices, trick noise makers and snake or glow worms are all permissible.
Illegal fireworks: Anything that explodes or leaves the ground -- cherry bombs, roman candles, firecrackers, bottle rockets, shells and rockets, M-80s and M-100s and helicopters.
If you have to light or ignite, it's illegal. Penalties for violations are up to $999 in fines and/or court costs, up to 1 year in jail. Call 720-913-2000 to report illegal fireworks.
Douglas County (unincorporated)
There are no fire restrictions in Douglas County this summer so the county is following State of Colorado rules regarding fireworks and will not allow any type of firework that leaves the ground.
Legal (on the ground) fireworks include sparklers, trick matches, noise makers and glow worms.
Elbert County (unincorporated)
Elbert County is currently under a Stage I burn restriction meaning the sale and use of fireworks is allowed in in compliance with state and local regulations. Fireworks that leave the ground are not allowed.
El Paso County (unincorporated)
If the firework flies through the air, explodes, or shoots flaming balls, they are illegal in El Paso County, including bottle rockets, mortars, M-80s, cherry bombs and Roman candles.
However, all types of fireworks (including sparklers, fountains, smoke bombs) are prohibited in Colorado Springs, Monument, Fountain and Manitou Springs.
Fireworks that leave the ground are illegal in Evans. Legal fireworks include sparklers, trick matches, noise makers and glow worms. For additional information call the Evans Police Department at 970-339-2441.
All fireworks, including sparklers and snakes, are illegal to sell, possess, or use in the city of Fort Collins. To report hearing or seeing fireworks, click here.
Any firework that leaves the ground is illegal.
All fireworks are banned within Golden city limits. This includes all fireworks sold at stands in Colorado and of course all of the state banned fireworks.
Fireworks that are allowed in Greeley include cylindrical fountains, cone fountains, wheels, ground spinners, illuminating torches, dipped sticks and sparklers, snake or glow worm pressed pellets.
Fireworks that explode or leave the ground are illegal. That includes bottle rockets, Roman candles and exploding fireworks such as firecrackers, artillery shells and M-80s.
Jefferson County (unincorporated)
Cherry bombs, Roman candles, firecrackers, bottle rockets, shells and rockets, M-80s, M-100s and helicopters are all examples of illegal fireworks in Jefferson County.
Cylindrical or cone fountains, wheels and ground spinners, illuminating torches and colored fire, dipped sticks and sparklers, toy propellant or toy smoke devices, trick noise makers and snake or glow worms are all permissible when no fire restrictions are in effect.
If it leaves the ground or explodes, it's illegal in Johnstown. Illegal fireworks include torpedoes, skyrockets, rockets, Roman candles and Day-Glow bombs.
The use of all fireworks, including items such as sparklers, snakes and smoke bombs, is prohibited within Lafayette city limits. Those in possession or caught using them will be ticketed.
By Lakewood city ordinance, all fireworks are prohibited. This includes items like sparklers, Roman candles and smoke bombs. Fines for illegal fireworks can reach $2,650.
The Lakewood Police Department will have extra agents on patrol throughout Lakewood to focus solely on fireworks issues.
All personal fireworks are illegal in Littleton, including sparklers. Use and possession of fireworks is serious and you could be cited.
Permissible fireworks include fountains, wheels, spinners, illuminating torches, dipped sticks, sparklers, snakes and glow worms.
If fireworks leave the ground or flies through the air or explodes, they are not allowed in the City of Lone Tree.
The sale or use of any firework that leaves the ground is illegal in Loveland.
Legal fireworks in Loveland include sparklers, fountains, smoke balls, items with crackle or strobe effects, wheels and spinners and various novelty items.
In Northglenn, all fireworks all illegal. This includes any that explode or leave the ground and fountains, sparklers, spinners, snakes and other novelties.
"Safe and sane" fireworks are allowed in Parker, including fountains, wheels, spinners, illuminating torches, dipped sticks, sparklers, snakes and glow worms.
Any fireworks that leave the ground or explode do are not "safe and sane" and illegal in Parker.
Any fireworks that light, leave the ground and explode are illegal in Pueblo. Class C fireworks such as sparklers and fountains are allowed.
Penalties for lighting illegal fireworks are a $1,000 fine for use in the city and a mandatory court appearance for those using fireworks outside the city limits.
Use of all fireworks are prohibited in state parks and wildlife areas and on U.S. Forest Service land.
It is illegal in the Town of Severance for any person to "use or discharge any device prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or audible effect by combustion, explosion or detonation," including sky rockets, Roman candles, Day-Glo bombs, sparklers or firecrackers.
In Thornton, fireworks cannot be possessed, made, sold, handles or used. This includes any firework that has to be lit. Novelty items like snap pops or confetti-filled items are permissible.
A first violation is a minimum fine of $500 and second violation is a fine of $1,000. To dispose of fireworks without penalty, bring them to any Thornton Fire Station through July 10.
Fireworks that explode, emit a loud bang, leave the ground due to an explosive charge, or fly through the air self-propelled are always illegal for handling, possession, sale, storage, and/or use within the City of Westminster.
From midnight July 3 until noon on July 5, the Westminster Municipal Code allows “permissible fireworks to be used including sparklers, fountains, ground spinners, illuminated torches and dipped sticks.
The Wheat Ridge Police Department says all fireworks, including fountains and sparklers, are illegal within city limits.
Anyone in possession of fireworks in the City of Wheat Ridge will be cited into Municipal Court, and may face a fine of up to $999, up to a year in jail, or both. If the illegal use of fireworks causes serious bodily injury or damages property, more serious felony charges could be applied.
You can report firework use in Wheat Ridge by calling 303-237-2220 and press 1 for dispatch.
Windsor says it is "unlawful for any person to manufacture, sell, offer for sale, possess, use or explode any fireworks within the Town."
Windsor defines fireworks as "firecrackers, torpedoes, skyrockets, roman candles, Day-Glo bombs, any devices containing any explosive or flammable compound." Windsor says the term fireworks does not include "automobile flares, sparklers or other devices of like construction, paper caps containing not in excess of an average of twenty-five hundredths of a grain of explosive content per cap."
RELATED | Keeping your pets calm during fireworks
SUGGESTED VIDEOS | Local stories from 9NEWS
