Bonfires and fireworks

The government has passed laws to try to reduce the casualties caused by fireworks.

Fireworks should not be sold to children and sellers need to be registered.

You may require a public entertainment licence for a fireworks display.

It is an offence:

• for retailers to supply fireworks to anyone under 18
• for fireworks to be supplied by traders who are not registered or licensed to store them
• for retailers to break open packs of fireworks and sell them individually
• to hawk or sell fireworks in the street or other public places
• for a member of the public under 18 to possess fireworks in a public place
• to use fireworks outside permitted hours of 6pm to 11pm, with the following exception - until midnight on 5 November and 1am on New Years Day, Chinese New Year and Diwali
• to set off fireworks in a public place
• to supply aerial shells, aerial maroons, bangers, mini rockets, air bombs, or other fireworks which produce sound pressure levels exceeding 120 decibels
• for retailers to supply fireworks outside prescribed dates which are 15 October-10 November, 26 December-31 December, the three days before and the first day of Chinese New Year and the three days before and the day of Diwal
• for a retailer to supply more than 5kg of fireworks to a consumer
• for a retailer to supply fireworks to a consumer outside the permitted hours of 7am to 6pm
• for a trader to supply more than 50kg of fireworks to anyone unless they hold a valid licence or certificate of registration issued by a local authority
• for a retailer not to prominently display a notice at least 300x400 mm stating 'it is illegal to supply fireworks to anyone under 18, and that it is illegal for anyone under 18 to possess fireworks in a public place'