In 2020 and 2021, the Rockefeller Institute of Government wrote about more recent shifts in federal, state, and local regulations for consumer fireworks. As we approach another Fourth of July, this update revisits those policies and explores how technological innovations—particularly drone shows—are reshaping traditional celebrations, especially in areas concerned about wildfire risks, noise complaints, and air pollution.
Fireworks Regulations
Because of their potential for injury, property damage, and environmental harm, fireworks have regulations at the federal, state, and local levels. At the federal level, consumer fireworks—small-scale fireworks intended for personal use by individuals—are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) through the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA). These regulations include setting performance standards, labeling requirements, and restrictions on explosive content. Additionally, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives oversees the importation, storage, and distribution of fireworks through federal explosives laws. Larger-scale display fireworks, such as those used in public or municipal shows, are handled by licensed pyrotechnicians and are regulated more strictly under ATF authority and require federal permits for possession and use.
States also have considerable authority to impose additional restrictions on consumer fireworks. Massachusetts continues to hold the strictest prohibitions, with complete bans on all consumer fireworks. Massachusetts state officials have attributed the fact that their state’s fireworks injury rate is 1/5 of the national rate to only allowing licensed professionals to shoot fireworks. Some other states, in contrast, like New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Texas, more broadly allow all adults (or those over the age of 16 in Texas) to purchase and use consumer fireworks.
As our previous blogs highlighted, New York State prohibits aerial consumer fireworks but allows display fireworks with proper permits, pyrotechnician licenses, and insurance. Display fireworks, also known as 1.3G fireworks, and formerly known as “Class B” fireworks, are not made for individual consumers, but are legally usable by licensed pyrotechnicians. New York State regulations permit most sparkling devices, which are a type of consumer firework that contains between 1 to 500 grams of pyrotechnic composition. This is a similar statewide restriction to California and New Jersey, though, as in other states, counties and localities in New York may have more strict policies. As of 2025, Albany, Bronx, Columbia, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Schenectady, Suffolk, and Westchester counties have enacted bans on sparkling devices.
Impacts and Concerns
As noted in our 2021 blog, some localities—including Albany County and the cities of Newburgh and Middletown—have repealed earlier laws that permitted sparkling devices in recent years. Albany County legislators cited a surge in public complaints, confusion between fireworks and gunshots, and distress caused to veterans and other members of the public struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). From 2019 to 2020, the City of Albany reported a 300 percent increase in fireworks-related police calls. Additionally, fireworks can cause serious physical injuries—primarily burns, but also injuries severe enough to result in death—and emergency rooms consistently report a sharp increase in firework-related injuries around the July 4th holiday. These developments underscore larger growing concerns over the physical and psychological impacts of fireworks use.
In addition to these public health and safety concerns, fireworks carry significant environmental health consequences. A 2015 study showed that air pollution spikes by 42 percent during the July 4th holiday. Firework air pollution includes harmful gases such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and toxic metals, including manganese, cadmium, and aluminum. Exposure to these pollutants can exacerbate existing health conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These pollutants can also contaminate nearby water and harm aquatic life. Wildlife and other animals, especially birds and household pets, are also highly sensitive to the noise and disorientation fireworks cause. Animal control officers and shelters routinely report an uptick in lost pets following July 4th events. Fireworks further present heightened wildfire risks, especially in drier western states. For example, during a 2021 July 4th celebration in Centerville, Utah, fireworks started a wildfire that led to nearly 100 households being evacuated. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2022, fireworks started an estimated 31,302 fires—this included 3,504 structure fires, 887 vehicle fires, 26,492 outside fires, and 418 unclassified fires.
New Lights in the Sky
In response to these concerns, cities like Salt Lake City, Utah, and Boulder, Colorado, have begun transitioning to drone light shows. These nighttime displays use fleets of hundreds of drones to produce vibrant, choreographed patterns, offering a similarly festive, but quieter, cleaner, and less risky alternative to fireworks. Across the world, drone shows have been used to celebrate more than just the July 4th; other celebrations have included weddings, New Year’s Eve celebrations, and even King Charles’ coronation celebration in the United Kingdom in 2023. It is estimated that the drone show industry is a roughly $338 million industry that is continuing to grow.
Drone shows are also regulated. Any person conducting drone shows commercially must be authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a certified remote pilot, specified under 14 CFR Part 107 regulations. Drones must be registered with the FAA through FAA Drone Zone and be marked with their FAA registration number. Certified remote pilots can fly drones above 400 feet in certain situations. On the other hand, recreational pilots, including hobbyists, must pass the Recreational Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Safety Test, may fly drones below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace, and are prohibited from flying in controlled airspace. There are strict penalties for both certified remote pilots and recreational pilots for flying drones that do not follow FAA rules.
Additionally, in 2021, the FAA created more rules affecting nighttime drone flights. Certified remote pilots who were certified before 2021 need to complete additional online training for nighttime flights. The 2021 rule change required all night-flying drones to have anti-collision lights, which are special flashing lights that are meant to provide visibility that could prevent a collision. More recently, in June 2025, the Trump administration, through the executive order “Unleashing American Drone Dominance,” directed multiple federal agencies to work towards expanding commercial drone operations and increasing domestic production of drones. This executive order, however, has potential implications far beyond recreational drone shows for holiday celebrations, potentially affecting their production and use.
Salt Lake City was one of the first large cities to make this transition for its Independence Day celebration. Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Menednehall announced in late June 2023 that they were going to use a drone show instead of fireworks. Her office stated that they made the move to proactively combat the city’s high fire danger and to alleviate local air quality issues. Other localities have followed this trend, including Napa and San Diego, California; Lincoln City, Oregon; Lakewood and Castle Rock, Colorado; and Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. However, not all of these changes have stuck. Galveston, Texas, for example, returned to traditional fireworks in 2023 after switching to drones in 2022, citing public preference for the more traditional fireworks experience. Many of the challenges surrounding consumer and display fireworks discussed here and in our previous blogs—such as noise complaints, injuries, and enforcement—are likely to persist in localities, particularly concerning consumer fireworks that drones will not replace.
Nonetheless, as states and municipalities weigh fireworks celebrations against public safety and environmental health impacts, drone shows are emerging as a compelling alternative for public displays of fireworks. While this shift is still uneven and evolving, it reflects a broader awareness of the cumulative impacts of fireworks, such as air pollution, PTSD triggers, fire risk, and wildlife disruption.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mathilda Scott is a policy analyst at the Rockefeller Institute of Government.