City reports $267,000 in illegal fireworks citations since new ordinance update

The City of Sacramento has issued $267,000 in citations for illegal fireworks since the City Council approved higher penalties in June. The updated ordinance allows year-round enforcement and increased fines up to $10,000 for violations near parks, schools, or critical infrastructure.

Of the total citation amount, $192,000 came from the Sacramento Fire Department, with the remaining $75,000 issued by the City’s Code Enforcement Division.

This enforcement period spanned July 2 through July 5. During that time, 44 citations were issued compared to 55 in 2024. However, the dollar amount more than doubled compared to last year, when citations totaled approximately $100,000.

The ordinance also designates each firework as a separate violation, increasing the financial consequences for individuals caught using multiple illegal fireworks.

“This year’s data shows that our new approach is working,” said Fire Marshal Jason Lee. “We’re holding people accountable for unsafe behavior and focusing our enforcement efforts where they’re needed most. These citations send a clear message: illegal fireworks won’t be tolerated in Sacramento.”

A heat map showing reported illegal fireworks activity over the Fourth of July weekend — based on calls to fire dispatch and reports through the City’s online tool — has also been released to inform future enforcement strategies.

How to report illegal fireworks in the City of Sacramento

Residents reporting illegal fireworks should call the non-emergency fire number at 916-808-3473 (FIRE).

They also can use the free Sacramento Fire Department Community App, which is monitored by the Sacramento Fire Department. The app is available for Android and Apple.

Please note that the City is not always able to immediately respond to reports of illegal fireworks due to the volume of calls received. If staff are not able to respond immediately, they will follow up on the reported information as soon as possible.

Download the Sacramento Fire Department Community App today to help keep neighborhoods safe this July 4.