Are Fireworks Legal in Indiana?
Yes, and Indiana is one of the most permissive states in the country. Anyone 18 or older can purchase and use the full range of consumer fireworks — firecrackers, Roman candles, bottle rockets, aerial shells, mortars, 500-gram repeater cakes, sparklers, and everything in between. Indiana is a major fireworks retail hub, with massive stores lining the borders that serve customers from neighboring states with stricter laws.
What You Can Buy
Indiana allows all consumer fireworks classified as 1.4G devices under CPSC regulations. There are no restrictions on types — if it is legal under federal consumer product safety standards, you can buy it in Indiana. The state requires all manufacturers, distributors, and sellers to hold state permits, and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security inspects licensed locations.
When You Can Use Them
Indiana's fireworks hours are layered between state law and local ordinances, with certain dates protected from local restriction:
- Year-round: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (may be further limited by local ordinance)
- State holidays (including Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Christmas, etc.): 9:00 a.m. to midnight
- June 29–July 3 and July 5–9: 5:00 p.m. until two hours after sunset (protected from local restriction)
- July 4: 10:00 a.m. to midnight (protected from local restriction)
- December 31: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. on January 1 (protected from local restriction)
The protected dates are key — local governments cannot prohibit fireworks use during those specific windows, even if they have a general fireworks ordinance.
Age Requirement
You must be at least 18 years old to purchase fireworks. Minors under 18 cannot possess or use fireworks unless an adult is present and responsible at the location. A minor caught with fireworks without adult supervision faces a Class C infraction with fines up to $500.
Where You Can Use Them
Fireworks may only be used on your own property, on property where you have the owner's permission, or at a designated discharge location. Public streets, rights-of-way, sidewalks, parks, and other public property are off-limits. Sky lanterns (untethered) are also prohibited.
Local Ordinance Variations
Many Indiana cities restrict hours beyond the state minimums on non-protected days. Indianapolis limits use to specific holiday windows with fines between $100 and $2,500 for violations. Evansville caps use at 10:30 p.m. on non-holiday dates. Fishers, Noblesville, Carmel, and Westfield all track the state's protected dates closely but restrict use on other days. Always check your city's specific ordinance.
Penalties
The baseline penalty for violating Indiana's fireworks time and place restrictions is a Class C infraction with a $500 maximum fine. Repeat offenses within five years can be upgraded to a Class C misdemeanor (60 days in jail, $500 fine). If fireworks cause property damage, the charge becomes a Class A misdemeanor (1 year in jail, $10,000 fine). Serious bodily injury elevates it to a Level 6 felony, and causing a death is a Level 5 felony with 2 to 8 years in prison.
Where to Buy
Indiana is loaded with fireworks retailers. Large year-round stores operate along I-65, I-69, I-70, and I-74, with the heaviest concentration near the Illinois and Ohio borders where demand from out-of-state buyers is highest. Seasonal tents appear in parking lots statewide starting in late June. Major chains and independent shops offer everything from sparkler assortments to professional-grade consumer cakes.
Local tip: Indiana's protected dates mean your city cannot stop you from shooting fireworks on July 4th or New Year's Eve during the specified hours, no matter what their ordinance says. But on every other day, local rules apply — and many suburbs have tighter windows than you might expect. Check before you light, and remember that the felony penalty for causing serious injury is very real.