Consumer fireworks became legal in Maine in 2013 and since then a number of towns have enacted ordinances that restrict the sale or use of fireworks. Those towns are required to provide a copy of their ordinance to the state Fire Marshal’s Office, and those copies are posted on the marshal’s website.
Below is a summary of towns in the Sun Journal’s circulation area that have ordinances governing the sale and use of consumer fireworks.
Andover: Consumer fireworks are banned, fines start at $100.
Auburn: Consumer fireworks are banned, fines up to $400.
Freeport: Consumer fireworks are banned, fines start at $100.
Greenwood: Consumer fireworks permitted on July 3 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., on July 4 between 10 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. the following day, and July 5 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.; fines up to $200.
Harrison: Consumer fireworks are banned, fines determined by the Board of Selectmen.
Lewiston: Consumer fireworks are permitted on July 4 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.; fines set by the City Council.
Livermore Falls: Consumer fireworks are permitted between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. every day within the designated “village area,” but no closer than 50 feet from any building or 25 feet from any overhead power lines. On July 4, fireworks are permitted between 10 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. the following day; fines start at $200. Fireworks are permitted outside the “village area” in accordance with state and federal laws.
Mechanic Falls: Consumer fireworks are permitted on July 4 between 9 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. the following day, and on July 3 and July 5 between 9 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. the following day when those dates fall on a weekend, as they do in 2015; fines start at $100.
Monmouth: Consumer fireworks are permitted on July 3, July 4 and July 5 between 5 and 10 p.m.; fines start at $200.
Norway: Consumer fireworks are banned, fines start at $200.
Rumford: Consumer fireworks banned, fines start at $500.
Sabattus: Consumer fireworks are permitted any day on private property, in conformance with state law; fines begin at $250.
Topsham: Consumer fireworks are banned, fines start at $500.
Winthrop: Consumer fireworks are permitted every day between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and on July 4 are permitted between 9 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. the following morning; fines start at $500.
Woodstock: Consumer fireworks are permitted every day between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m., and on July 4 are permitted between 9 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. the following day. They are also permitted between 9 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. the following day on the weekends immediately before and after July 4; fines begin at $100.
For more details on these ordinances, go to: maine.gov/dps/fmo/fireworks/ordinances.htm.
In towns that have not adopted consumer fireworks ordinances, state guidelines govern sale and use of consumer fireworks, allowing use on July 4 between 9 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. the following day, and between 9 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. the following day on the weekends immediately before and after July 4.
State law prohibits the sale or use of missile-type rockets, helicopters and aerial spinners, and sky rockets or bottle rockets, defined as cylindrical tubes containing not more than 20 grams of chemical material.
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