Are Fireworks Legal in Colorado?
Only barely. Colorado bans all fireworks that explode or leave the ground, which eliminates most of what people think of as fireworks. What the state calls "permissible fireworks" is a short list of ground-based items: fountains, sparklers, ground spinners, smoke devices, wheels, and illuminating torches. No firecrackers, no bottle rockets, no Roman candles, no mortars, no aerial shells — none of it. And even those modest ground items are banned outright in many of Colorado's biggest cities.
What You Can Legally Use
Colorado's permissible fireworks list under CRS 24-33.5-2001 is limited to devices that stay on the ground and do not explode:
- Cylindrical fountains (up to 75 grams per tube, 200 grams total on a common base)
- Cone fountains (up to 50 grams per cone, 200 grams total)
- Wheels and ground spinners
- Illuminating torches
- Dipped sticks and wire sparklers
- Smoke devices and novelty items
The sparks from any device cannot exceed 15 feet in height. If it shoots higher, goes airborne, or makes a bang, it is illegal statewide — even if you bought it legally in Wyoming or Nebraska.
Cities That Ban Everything
Here is the real kicker. Colorado cities and counties can impose restrictions beyond state law, and many ban all fireworks, including sparklers. Major cities with total bans include:
- Denver: All fireworks illegal. Fines up to $999, up to one year in jail.
- Fort Collins: Complete ban on sale, possession, and use.
- Colorado Springs: All fused fireworks illegal. Only snappers and poppers allowed.
- Arvada, Lakewood, and Boulder: Total bans year-round.
Some communities allow permissible fireworks on limited dates. Commerce City, for example, permits ground-based items on July 3 and 4 until 11 p.m., with first-offense fines starting at $500.
Age Restrictions
You must be at least 16 years old to purchase any fireworks in Colorado. Adults cannot sell or give fireworks to anyone under 16. Children under 16 may use permissible fireworks under direct adult supervision in jurisdictions where those items are legal.
Fire Restrictions Can Shut Everything Down
Colorado's dry climate and wildfire risk mean that county sheriffs and the U.S. Forest Service can enact fire bans at any time, prohibiting even permissible fireworks. Stage 1 fire restrictions — common in summer — typically ban all fireworks including sparklers. Douglas, Summit, and Boulder counties all enacted fire-restriction fireworks bans during recent holiday seasons. These restrictions can appear with little warning.
Penalties
State-level possession of illegal fireworks is a petty offense carrying up to 10 days in jail and $300 in fines. But city penalties are far steeper. Denver can impose up to $999 in fines and a year in jail. Lone Tree goes up to $2,650 and a year of imprisonment. Jefferson County classifies violations as a class 3 misdemeanor with up to $750 in fines and six months in jail. If your fireworks start a wildfire, you face criminal charges and full civil liability for suppression costs and property damage.
Where to Buy
Licensed fireworks stands and tents appear seasonally in communities where permissible fireworks are legal, typically in unincorporated county areas and smaller towns along the Front Range. You will not find them inside Denver, Fort Collins, or Colorado Springs city limits. Many Coloradans drive to Wyoming border towns like Cheyenne to buy fireworks, but bringing anything illegal back across the state line does not make it legal in Colorado.
Local tip: Check two things before you buy: your city's ordinance and the current fire restriction level. Both can change fast. The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control posts fire restriction updates, and your county sheriff's office can confirm what is currently banned in your area.