Information from King County Local Services
As the July 4th holiday approaches, Local Services reminds residents that the use and sale of consumer fireworks are not allowed in unincorporated King County.
To put it another way, #DontBlowIt: Residents must #CutTheFuse on fireworks in unincorporated areas such as Skyway, White Center, Snoqualmie Valley, Greater Maple Valley, Enumclaw Plateau and Vashon Island.
This is the first year that fireworks have been banned in unincorporated King County. For some, the new rules are a big change to their July 4th traditions. Unincorporated areas won’t see fireworks stands. Residents aren’t allowed to light fireworks in their cul-de-sacs or back yards.
Instead, folks are encouraged to find ways to celebrate the Fourth of July that don’t endanger residents, pets or property.
“We acknowledge and respect that there is a longstanding tradition of individuals and families celebrating our nation’s independence with fireworks - that's true for our family too,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “But in a county of 2.3 million people, with many of our cities already having prohibited fireworks, doing the same in unincorporated King County is a necessary step to ensure safety and prevent tragedies.”
First year of fireworks ban
In 2021, Executive Constantine signed the ban into law prohibiting the use and sale of consumer fireworks, and state law required a year before the ban took effect.
County leaders had discussed a consumer fireworks ban in unincorporated areas for years. There have been several wildfires in rural parts of the county during recent dry summers, and several fireworks-related injuries and other incidents in urban areas—including a 2019 house fire in White Center in which a person died.
The new rules bring the unincorporated areas in line with most neighboring King County cities and jurisdictions with established fireworks bans on their books.
Violators of the fireworks ban
With this year being the first that fireworks aren’t permitted, King County is emphasizing community education about the new rules and is deferring issuing citations for a year.
However, that doesn’t mean folks will be able to light fireworks without repercussion.
Starting June 14, residents will be able to report violators to the King County Permitting Division:
King County will issue a warning to violators and include them in our records. If the behavior continues, these violators will likely be the first to eventually receive citations.
King County Local Services is finalizing the details of how violators will be cited beginning in 2023.
So if fireworks aren’t allowed, how should residents celebrate the July 4th holiday?
The good news is there are plenty of ways to celebrate the Fourth of July safely and without fireworks. Below is a sampling of ideas, courtesy of the King County Fire Chiefs Association:
- Light up the night with glowsticks or glow-in-the-dark bubbles
- Have an outdoor movie night
- Bake a cake for America’s birthday
- Make a statement with noise makers
- Have fun with red, white and blue with Silly String
- Decorate your porch or yard
- Find fun craft and coloring activities for kids
- Dress up your pets!
And if residents still want to enjoy fireworks without directly using them, consider attending a public display. Many of the annual fireworks displays were canceled last year due to the pandemic but several of those are back on this year (please follow mask and social distancing recommendations).
