Auburn Hills Adopts Local Ordinance Limiting the Use of Consumer Fireworks

On Monday, August 5, 2013, the Auburn Hills City Council approved a local ordinance, which limits the use of consumer fireworks.  The local ordinance prohibits the ignition, discharge, and use of consumer fireworks on all days except national holidays, the day before or the day after the national holiday.  These national holidays are:

• New Year’s Day, January 1^st
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day, third Monday in February
• Memorial Day, last Monday in May
• Independence Day, July 4^th
• Labor Day, first Monday in September
• Columbus Day, the second Monday in October
• Veteran’s Day, November 11^th
• Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November
• Christmas Day, December 25^th

The local ordinance also prohibits the times when consumer fireworks can be used on these holidays.  Prohibited times are from midnight to 8 am except on New Year’s Day when the prohibition would be from 1 am to 8 am.  Minors are prohibited from possessing, discharging, and/or igniting any fireworks unless they are being supervised by a parent or legal guardian.

Violation of this ordinance is deemed a civil infraction punishable by fine of $500.00 or less, plus costs, damages, and any other relief allowed under law.

In June 2013 the State Legislature amended 2011 Public Act 256, known as the “Michigan Fireworks Safety Act” allowing local communities to pass ordinances regulating the use of consumer fireworks to prescribe hours of the day or night when they may be used on national holidays.  Local communities can not prohibit the use of consumer fireworks on national holidays, the day before or the day after.

For further information regarding this ordinance please visit: www.auburnhills.org

The Auburn Hills Police Department reminds citizens that they can contact us at 248-370-9444 to report incidents of fireworks use in violation of this local ordinance.

Media Contact
Lieutenant Ryan Gagnon
Public Information Officer
248-364-6851