Fireworks Rules in Plain English: UK Law, Fines and Common Myths

If you’ve been searching for “UK fireworks law”, “are fireworks banned?” or “what time can I set fireworks off?”, you’ve probably discovered that:

1. Everyone’s got an opinion, and

2. Half of them are wrong.

The reality is that the UK has quite a lot of fireworks law already, layered up over the years: the Fireworks Regulations 2004, the Explosives Act, local by-laws, and now extra rules in Scotland under the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022.

This guide is the plain-English version. No legalese, just:

• What you can and can’t do

• When you’re allowed to do it

• What happens if you get it wrong

• A few persistent myths that really need retiring

And because we’re Epic Fireworks, we’ll also talk about why buying from a proper specialist makes following the rules much easier.

Quick disclaimer: this is a friendly summary, not legal advice. If you’re planning something big and borderline, always check the official guidance for your area.

1. The Basics: Who Can Buy What?

Age limits

Across the UK (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland):

• You must be 18 or over to buy “adult” fireworks – that’s most Category 2 and 3 consumer fireworks.

• It’s illegal for under-18s to possess fireworks in a public place.

Category 1 “indoor” / novelty bits (like some party poppers) have lower age limits, but if it goes in the sky or looks even vaguely exciting, assume it’s 18+.

Firework categories (the quick version)

UK standards split fireworks into categories:

• Category 1 – indoor / very small (party poppers, cake fountains, etc.)

• Category 2 – “garden” fireworks; usually 5–8m minimum distance

• Category 3 – “display” fireworks; 25m+ distance, bigger effects

• Category 4 – professional only; not for the general public

You’ll sometimes see 8m Category 2 fireworks mentioned – these are a newer category with slightly bigger effects than old 5m pieces, but still more compact than full 25m display items.

There’s also a noise cap: fireworks louder than 120 dB at 15 metres can’t be sold to the public.

Our product pages spell out category and/or the minimum distance clearly, so you’re not guessing whether something is suitable for your garden or needs a field and an understanding farmer.

2. When You’re Allowed to Buy Fireworks

Here’s where people get confused.

The law vs supermarket shelves

According to the Commons Library briefing, it’s legal for licensed specialist shops to sell fireworks all year round, as long as they have the right storage licence.

However, most “normal” retailers (supermarkets, corner shops) can only sell fireworks in set seasonal windows:

• 15 October – 10 November (Bonfire Night season)

• 26 – 31 December (New Year)

• Three days before Chinese New Year

• Three days before Diwali

That’s why it looks like fireworks magically “appear” and “disappear” in the shops.

Specialist retailers like us here at Epic Fireworks are different:

• We’re licensed to store and sell fireworks all year

• You can order online for home delivery, or buy from the showroom in season

So no, fireworks haven’t “been banned because Tesco stopped selling them in November”. It just means the seasonal window has closed, and you need a proper fireworks supplier instead.

3. When You Can Set Fireworks Off

This is the big one.

Standard curfew

For most of the year in the UK, the rule is simple:You must not set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am.

That applies to any day of the week, including Sundays.

Extended times on “permitted nights”

On certain occasions, the legal cut-off is later:

• Bonfire Night (5 November): up to midnight

• New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year: up to 1am

Important detail: that’s 1am on the following day. So on New Year’s Eve, you can legally fire until 1am on 1st January.

You can use fireworks all year – within those times

Contrary to what your uncle on Facebook insists, you can let fireworks off at other times of year, provided:

• You’re on private land with permission, and

• You stick to the 11pm–7am / special nights rules

Local by-laws and Scottish control zones (we’ll come to those) might add extra limits on top, but the national rules are your starting point.

4. Where You Can (and Can’t) Use Fireworks

This is the bit that trips up a lot of otherwise sensible adults.

Private land with permission

UK government guidance for non-professional displays is crystal clear:

• Have your display on private land,

• With the landowner’s permission.

So your own garden, a friend’s garden (with their say-so), a farmer’s field you’ve actually asked about – all good.

Public places, streets and highways

Also clear:

• It’s illegal to set off or throw fireworks (including sparklers) in the street or other public places.

• The Highways Act 1980 bans using fireworks within 50 feet of the centre of a highway.

So:

• Outside the pub, directly in the road? No.

• In a public park without permission? No.

• On a communal green you don’t have permission for? Also no.

Besides being illegal, it’s a brilliant way to meet the police faster than you were hoping.

5. What Happens If You Get It Wrong? (Fines and Penalties)

The UK doesn’t mess about when it comes to fireworks offences.

According to GOV.UK and the Commons Library briefings:

• Using fireworks illegally (e.g. outside curfew, in public places, without permission) can lead to:

  • Fines of up to £5,000

  • Up to 6 months in prison

  • And/or an on-the-spot fine (Fixed Penalty Notice)

Some local authorities and police forces quote typical fixed penalties of £90 or more for things like illegal use in the street or throwing fireworks.

There are also separate offences for:

• Selling to under-18s

• Possessing Category 4 (pro-only) fireworks as a member of the public

• Using fireworks dangerously or causing harassment, alarm or distress (which can be treated as antisocial behaviour or public order offences)

In Scotland, the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 also bans possession of fireworks at certain events and venues (like football matches) and allows for control zones where fireworks are restricted or banned, with enforcement by Police Scotland.

Short version: “it’s only a few rockets in the street” can get expensive very quickly.

6. Special Case: Scotland in 2025

If you live in Scotland, you’ve got extra layers on top of the UK-wide rules.

The Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 allows for:

• A fireworks licensing system for members of the public

• Firework control zones where using fireworks is restricted or banned

• Restrictions on supply to young people

• New offences around possession of fireworks at certain events and venues, and misuse of pyrotechnics (like flares) in public places and at sporting events

As of late 2025:

• Some parts of the Act are in force, including tighter restrictions and offences.

• The full licensing system has been paused due to cost concerns, but may be revived in future.

• Cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow have used their powers to create “firework-free zones” in specific areas around Bonfire Night.

So in Scotland, it’s essential to:

• Check your local council’s website for control zones or extra rules

• Assume that using fireworks near big events or stadiums is a very bad idea

The UK-wide basics still apply (age limits, curfews, public places), but Scotland has definitely dialled up the restrictions.

7. Common Myths (And What the Law Actually Says)

Let’s kill off a few classics.

Myth 1: “Fireworks are banned now”

Nope.

As the House of Commons keeps patiently pointing out, the UK has strict regulation, but consumer fireworks are still legal to buy and use within the rules.

There’ve been big petitions, Commons debates, and calls from animal charities and some councils for tighter controls or bans – especially after incidents like the red panda tragedy at Edinburgh Zoo – but as of December 2025, no national ban exists.

What we do have:

• Stronger guidance and campaigns about considerate use

• Scotland pushing further with control zones and event restrictions

• Ongoing reviews of decibel levels and sales rules

So fireworks aren’t going anywhere – but neither is the pressure to use them sensibly, and rightly so. We do not condone improper use of fireworks, it's unsafe and ruins the fun for the majority of us who use and love fireworks safely and considerately.

Myth 2: “You can only use fireworks on Bonfire Night and New Year”

Wrong.

You can legally set off fireworks any time of year, as long as:

• You’re on private land with permission

• You stick to the 11pm–7am rule (with the extended times on permitted nights)

• There are no local by-laws or Scottish control zones banning them where you are

So if you want fireworks for a wedding in July, a birthday in March or a "it's Friday, let's have some fun" display, that’s absolutely allowed – just keep the times and location legal.

Myth 3: “If it’s only sparklers, it’s fine in the street”

Also wrong.

The law against setting off or throwing fireworks in the street or other public places explicitly includes sparklers.

Sparklers burn at around 1,000°C. They’re not harmless, and they’re covered by the same public-place rules as other fireworks.

Myth 4: “All fireworks are the same in England and Scotland”

They’re not.

The core UK rules on age limits, categories and curfew apply across England, Wales and Scotland. But Scotland has now layered on:

• Control zones

• Event/venue possession bans

• A (currently paused) public licensing system

So if you’re in Scotland, you’re playing on “hard mode” compared with most of England and Wales; always double-check local restrictions.

Myth 5: “If the shop sold it to me, I can use it however I like”

Absolutely not.

Retailers have to follow strict rules on what they can sell, when and to whom – but once you walk out of the door, you’re responsible for how you use it.

That includes:

• Only using fireworks on appropriate land

• Sticking to legal times

• Respecting minimum safety distances

• Not scaring the life out of the neighbourhood at 1am in February

This is why buying from a reputable specialist like Epic matters – you get clear labels, honest advice and realistic product information, not just a cardboard box and a hopeful shrug.

8. Where Epic Fireworks Fits Into All This

So where do we come in?

Epic Fireworks:

• Is a licensed specialist retailer, allowed to sell fireworks all year round (not just in seasonal slots).

• Stocks the largest range of consumer fireworks in the UK, including:

  • Garden-friendly pieces

  • Big barrages for open spaces

  • Low-noise options for pets and built-up areas

• Labels products clearly with categories, distances and noise ratings, so you can match what you’re buying to what you’re legally and practically able to do.

We also keep the blog stacked with law-and-safety explainers, tips, tricks, buying guides and lots of interesting news from the pyrotechnic world.

The idea is simple: if you understand the rules and choose fireworks that fit your space, your neighbours and your local laws, everyone has a better night – including the people and animals who never asked for a display in the first place.

9. The 2025 Fireworks Law Cheat Sheet

If you remember nothing else, remember this:

• 18+ to buy adult fireworks (Category 2 and 3), and under-18s can’t have them in public.

• 11pm–7am curfew most nights; extended to midnight on 5 November and 1am on New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year.

• Private land with permission only – no streets, no random parks, no “outside the pub will be fine”.

• Fines up to £5,000 and/or 6 months in prison for illegal use, plus on-the-spot penalties for some offences.

• Scotland has extra rules – including control zones and venue bans – so always check your council’s site.

Within those lines, fireworks are still very much legal – and still very much brilliant, when used with a bit of common sense.

If you want to stay on the right side of the law in 2025 and still put on a show that looks like you know what you’re doing, the recipe is straightforward:

• Know the rules (you’ve just done that bit).

• Pick the right kit for your space and timing.

• Buy from a specialist who understands both fireworks and the law.