As the Fourth of July approaches, Sacramento officials are warning residents that lighting the wrong kind of firework could now cost you thousands, and the crackdown won’t stop after the holiday.
The Sacramento City Council recently voted to pass an increase in fines for using illegal fireworks. A ticket for setting one off can reach as high as $10,000 in high-risk areas, including schools, parks, and near the river.
That’s on top of escalating previous fines; now the tickets will start at $1,000 for the first violation, $2,500 for the second, and $5,000 for each additional violation within a year. The city also now counts each illegal firework separately, meaning citations can stack.
Pastor Levon Davis has been selling legal fireworks for nearly 30 years through his church’s stand off Fruitridge Road. He says people should stick to the allowed options.
“If you don’t have $10,000 to waste, don’t mess with the illegals,” said Davis. “This stuff is a lot of fun … it’s about the kids anyway.”
Davis said ‘safe and sane’ fireworks, the only kind permitted for use in the city, are meant to bring joy without causing too much danger.
“These are all ‘safe and sane…’ more family-oriented. Lot of color, lot of sparkle, lot of noise,” he said. “Those who have the illegal [fireworks], those are the adults.”
Councilmember Lisa Kaplan pushed for the increased fines. She said the changes were needed after years of nuisance to neighbors. In a newsletter, she cited a fire on the roof of Natomas Middle School and damage to Northlake Community Park as recent examples.
“These changes will help address illegal fireworks’ impact on our communities by increasing fines for the possession, manufacture, sale and use of dangerous fireworks to $10,000,” Kaplan wrote. “Sacramento Fire, Sac PD and code enforcement are collaborating on enforcement of the new ordinance.”
The city is also deploying a drone program this Fourth of July, according to Kaplan, to help identify violators in real time.
Sacramento Fire Captain Justin Sylvia says enforcement is stricter than ever and is now year-round, not just over the July 4th holiday.
“We’re out there enforcing,” Sylvia said. “We count each individual firework, and the fines stack. It’s not just one ticket anymore.”
Sylvia said the Sacramento Fire Department will have teams that are going throughout the city in unmarked vehicles taking video. They can use that video to send people a fine in the mail.
The department is asking residents to report illegal use directly through the Sacramento Fire Department app, which allows users to upload video or photos. Reports can also be made by calling the city’s non-emergency fire line (916) 264-5151.
“The best way to do it is capture video and upload it to our Sacramento Fire app,” Sylvia said. “Or call our arson tip line. We follow up, even if it’s not right away.”
He added that even legal fireworks, if mishandled, can still start fires.
“Safe and Sane” fireworks for sale at a stand in Sacramento. July 1, 2025.Tony Rodriguez/CapRadio“We quite often see that they're not getting soaked or they're just thrown to the curbside and placed into a garbage can,” he said. “The garbage cans in the city are made of plastic. They catch on fire.”
Under city law, fireworks can only be sold from June 28 through July 4, and used between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. during that window. The city also holds property owners and renters responsible if illegal fireworks are set off on their property and they don’t act to stop it.
The city’s message comes as the Governor issued a statewide warning about illegal fireworks. Governor Gavin Newsom announced that more than 600,000 pounds of illegal fireworks have been seized across California so far in 2025. That’s more than double last year’s total. The official press release notes that violators can face fines of up to $50,000 and a year in jail.
“Illegal fireworks won’t be tolerated, and you will be prosecuted,” Newsom said. “They run the risk of starting dangerous fires in the peak of our fire season.”
According to CAL FIRE, fireworks have sparked more than 1,200 fires and caused $35 million in property damage across the state since 2024.
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