ARE FIREWORKS LEGAL IN VERMONT?
Fireworks are restricted in Vermont.
Consumer fireworks are restricted in Vermont. Only sparklers and novelty items are legal without a permit. Most consumer fireworks require a permit.
📅 WHEN CAN YOU USE FIREWORKS?
No legal consumer fireworks use windows
N/A
Vermont bans virtually all consumer fireworks. Only sparklers (under 14 inches, max 20g pyrotechnic mixture) and novelty items (snakes, poppers, smoke devices, snappers with max 0.25 grains explosive) are legal year-round. All other fireworks require both a federal ATF permit and a local fire chief permit for supervised public displays only. Municipalities may issue permits for public displays. There are no legal use windows for consumer fireworks.
🎆 WHAT'S LEGAL IN VERMONT?
Bottle rockets, Roman candles, mortars, 500g cakes
All aerial consumer fireworks are illegal per 20 V.S.A. §3132
Fountains, cones, wheels, ground spinners
All ground-based consumer fireworks (except sparklers/novelties) are illegal per 20 V.S.A. §3132
Sparklers (<14 in), smoke bombs, snaps, poppers, snakes
Only sparklers under 14 inches with max 20g mix, and novelty devices with max 0.25 grains explosive mix are legal (20 V.S.A. §3131)
Firecrackers, strings
Expressly prohibited per 20 V.S.A. §3131 definition of fireworks
Spinning aerial devices
All aerial devices are illegal for consumer use
Any DIY, altered, or reloaded fireworks
Illegal — misdemeanor per 20 V.S.A. §3135; fireworks subject to seizure per §3134
📋 KEY RULES
18 — unlawful to sell sparklers or smoke devices to minors (20 V.S.A. §3132(a)(4))
No state minimum for sparkler use, but sale to minors is banned
Private property; sparklers and novelty items only
All consumer fireworks (other than sparklers/novelties) are banned everywhere without a permit
Requires both ATF federal permit and local fire chief permit; application at least 15 days in advance (20 V.S.A. §3132(b))
⚖️ PENALTIES
Possession, sale, or use of illegal fireworks
Misdemeanor: up to $100 fine per violation and/or up to 30 days imprisonment (20 V.S.A. §3135(1))
Indoor fireworks display without permit
Misdemeanor: up to $5,000 fine and/or up to 1 year imprisonment (20 V.S.A. §3135(2))
Transporting fireworks into Vermont
Misdemeanor: up to $100 fine per violation and/or up to 30 days imprisonment (20 V.S.A. §3132(a)(3), §3135)
Selling non-compliant sparklers
Misdemeanor: up to $100 fine per violation and/or up to 30 days imprisonment (20 V.S.A. §3132(a)(5), §3135)
Nighttime noise violation (fireworks related)
Up to $50 fine under noise in the nighttime statute (13 V.S.A. §1022)