No Fireworks in Redwood City
Fireworks are illegal in Redwood City
Up to $50,000 fines and jail time.
Keep your family and our community safe.
The use of ALL fireworks by people unlicensed to display fireworks is ILLEGAL in the City of Redwood City, as it is in most communities on the peninsula. Fireworks are dangerous and can result in fires and injuries that are easily preventable. In addition, fireworks cause unnecessary anxiety and fear in our community. Be a good neighbor and don't risk it! Let's keep each other safe and sane.
We understand that the use of illegal fireworks is a frustrating problem for many members of our community. While the Redwood City Police Department will redirect resources to address the issue, it is easier to NOT attempt to set-off fireworks in the first place.
Message from the Fire Marshal
To Families in Redwood City and San Carlos
Dear Families,
It is my pleasure to serve as your Fire Marshal for the cities of Redwood City and San Carlos. As we head into the summer months, the season of red flag warnings for Northern California has begun. I want to take a moment to share some important safety information to help protect our children, homes, and neighborhoods.
Fireworks might look fun or exciting, but they’re not safe for children or for home use. Even small items like sparklers can reach temperatures of 1,200°F—hot enough to melt glass or cause severe burns. Every year, we respond to preventable emergencies: children with injuries, pets in distress, and fires sparked by fireworks that were thought to be “safe.”
In Redwood City and San Carlos, all fireworks are illegal, including those labeled “safe and sane.” These bans are in place to reduce fire risk, prevent injuries, and protect our community—especially during the dry summer months.
To learn more about fire safety, we would like to invite your family to join us for a special event:
🚒 Save the Date: RCFD Family-Friendly Community Event
Saturday, June 21 at Station 9
Bring the whole family for a fun, educational day with fire safety demonstrations, activities for kids, and opportunities to meet your local firefighters. More details to come!
🎆 Then for the 4th of July, start your morning with us at the Redwood City Firefighters Pancake Breakfast—a fun and welcoming tradition that brings neighbors together and supports local programs. In the evening, don’t miss the Redwood City Fourth of July Drone Show—a spectacular, fire-free alternative to fireworks, lighting up the sky with lights, music, and motion. It’s safe for all ages, pets, and our environment.
More information is available at:
👉 www.RedwoodCity.org/FourthOfJuly
At home, you can also create lasting memories with fire-free celebration ideas:
- Glow stick parades and LED toys
- Sidewalk chalk art or bike decorating contests
- DIY confetti poppers or silly string games
- Backyard water play, bubble stations, and patriotic crafts
- Outdoor movie night with a favorite family film
🎒 Want to learn more about fireworks safety and injury prevention?
Let’s make this summer a season that is festive, memorable, and—most importantly—safe for everyone in our community. Thank you for doing your part to help keep our neighborhoods fire-free and injury-free.
Sincerely,
Janice Cheung
Fire Marshal
Redwood City & San Carlos Fire Departments
HOW TO REPORT ILLEGAL FIREWORKS
When reporting illegal fireworks use, please call the Redwood City Police Department non-emergency line at (650) 780-7118 at the time of the incident and provide specific addresses or identifying information to assist responding officers. This helps our officers enforce the City’s Social Host Ordinance by tying a specific property to the illegal activity.
SOCIAL HOST ORDINANCE APPROVED
The use of fireworks by people unlicensed to display fireworks is illegal in the City of Redwood City. In 2019, the City Council adopted a Social Host ordinance to provide more comprehensive enforcement tools. The regulations apply to any person who has the right to use, possess or occupy a public or private property under a lease, permit, license, rental agreement, or contract.
Additionally, the ordinance applies to any person who hosts, organizes, supervises, officiates, conducts, or accepts responsibility for a gathering on public or private property. The ordinance exempts property owners who can demonstrate that at the time of the violation they had rented or leased the property to another, they were not present, and they had no prior knowledge of the violation. This ordinance is not intended to be used to seek out violations but is crafted to hold persons in control of the property accountable for the illegal use of fireworks. The City will use the establishment of the ordinance to conduct additional community outreach to inform the public of its existence and potential penalties will further the goal of reducing illegal fireworks use in the community. Fireworks have been illegal since 2014 when the City Council banned "safe and sane" fireworks use in Redwood City.
LARGER FINES APPROVED
On April 23, 2018, City Council approved a resolution to increase the fines associated with illegal fireworks use. The City’s new approved rates for administrative citations are provided below:
| Recommended Fee | |
| First Violation, with no written notice provided | $500 for first violation |
| First Violation, with written notice provided | $500 for first violation |
| Second Violation of the same code section by the same person within a 12-month period of the first violation | $750 |
| Third Violation and each Subsequent Violation of the same code section by the same person within a 12 month period from the second or most recent violation | $1,000 |
OTHER PENALTIES
In addition to the City’s increase in Administrative Citation Fines, someone who violates the State Fireworks Law can be fined and imprisoned. Per California Health & Safety Code, penalties for violating the State Fireworks Law can range from fines of $500 to $50,000 and violators also can be imprisoned in the county jail.