Fireworks

Spring Garden Township Code

Chapter 147: Fireworks

147-1 Purpose:

It shall be unlawful for any person, persons, firms or corporations, amusement parks, fair associations or other organizations or groups of individuals to have or to hold displays of fireworks within the limits of the Township, unless a permit thereof is first granted by the Board, as hereinafter provided.

147-4 Permit Application:

An application for permit(s) shall be made in writing to the Township at least 45 days in advance of the date of display, setting forth the proposed location of the display, the character thereof, a detailed site plan, the names and addresses of all property owners located within 500 feet of the outermost edges of a proposed display's fallout perimeter, the name and address of the operator, and the name and address of the owner(s) of the grounds on which the display is to be held, with the consent of such owner(s) thereto in writing attached. All applicants, prior to the issuance of a permit, shall: a) pay the Township an application fee of $100; b) provide proof of the required bond; and c) pay the Township, for reimbursement to the York Area United Fire and Rescue, the sum of $500 for fire department coverage during the fireworks display. All such fees identified herein may be amended by resolution of the Board from time to time.

147-8 Hours of Discharge:

All permitted fireworks displays must occur between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

147-10 Violations and Penalties:

Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 and costs and, in default of payment, to undergo imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days. All prosecutions shall be brought before the Magisterial District Judge having jurisdiction of summary violations that occur in Spring Garden Township.

The State Police have provided some guidance to private users of fireworks following the passage of new Pennsylvania legislation in 2017. Those guidelines can be viewed at http://www.psp.pa.gov/public-safety/pages/fireworks-safety.aspx.

In summary, the State Police guidelines are as follows:

They cannot be ignited or discharged on a public or private property without express permission of the property owner.

They cannot be discharged from or within a motor vehicle or building.
They cannot be discharged toward a motor vehicle or building.
They cannot be discharged within 150 feet of an occupied structure.
They cannot be discharged while the person is under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or another drug.
Safety precautions may be out of mind when fireworks are in hand. That is especially scary considering the erratic nature of some items, like bottle rockets.

Once you light the fuse, it’s not like you have control of where the firework goes. It can land on top of somebody’s roof. It can land on a structure. It can land on a field that’s dry and start a fire.

If you are aware of fireworks being improperly discharged, we recommend that you contact the Spring Garden Township Police Department at 717-843-0851 between 8 AM and 4:30 PM on Monday-Friday. You should provide them with as much information about the situation as possible: address, name of user ( if known), and time of event.

Sincerely,

Board of Directors of WHPOA