Firework season is currently underway in Oregon. The annual 14-day legal firework purchasing period kicked off on June 23 ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.

While fireworks can be legally purchased statewide until July 6, many cities and agencies impose tight restrictions on their sale and use to prevent the risk of accidental fires, injuries and disturbances.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal is promoting safe holiday celebrations with its message: “Keep it legal. Keep it safe.” The agency is reminding people to practice its “four Bs” of safe fireworks use:

• Be prepared: Have a bucket of water or hose nearby.
• Be safe: Keep children and pets at a safe distance. Never light fireworks near dry vegetation.
• Be responsible: Don’t relight “duds.” After lighting a firework, soak them in water before disposing.
• Be aware: Only use legal fireworks and only where they are allowed.

In Oregon, legal fireworks must remain on the ground and cannot travel more than 12 inches into the air without a permit.

Fireworks that exceed those limits, including bottle rockets, Roman candles and firecrackers, are considered illegal. Violators can face a class B misdemeanor and fines of up to $2,500.

Here’s what to know to stay safe — and legal — this fireworks season.

Oregon’s fireworks ban

Though fireworks are now available for sale, they’re not allowed to be used in many locations across Oregon. Below is a list of fireworks restrictions across the state.

• Public lands and parks
• National parks and forests
• Bureau of Land Management lands
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service properties
• Oregon state beaches, parks and campgrounds

Oregon Parks and Recreation Spokesperson Stefanie Knowlton said they encourage visitors to enjoy its vast parks, but that they must leave the fireworks behind.

“We love families coming together to celebrate the holidays, picnics, camping and enjoying lakes and rivers,” Knowlton said. “We just don’t allow fireworks within Oregon state parks or the entire ocean shore.”

Knowlton said fireworks pose a “significant danger” to visitors, wildlife and buildings.

So far in June, the state has already closed or evacuated three state parks due to nearby wildfires.

“It really highlights the danger of any kind of sparks or explosives in those areas,” Knowlton said.

Knowlton encourages visitors to “know before you go” by visiting the state parks website to learn more about its burn bans and firework restrictions.

Firework usage in protected areas also poses a danger to protected species disturbed by the loud noise of explosives.

Last year, following the Fourth of July, volunteers near Lincoln City collected nearly 1,000 pounds of trash, with firework debris being a top collected item.

“That debris directly impacts the ecological resilience of our beaches, oceans and wildlife,” Laurel Hillman, ocean shore resource coordinator at Oregon State Parks, said in a press release.

Multnomah County

In 2022, the Portland City Council passed a citywide ban on the sale and use of all fireworks. The decision followed several severe injuries and wildfires, including the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, which scorched nearly 50,000 acres across Oregon and Washington.

The fire was started by a then 15-year-old boy using fireworks. In 2021, two people were killed in a large July 4 fire in Northeast Portland, which investigators said was caused by illegal fireworks.

The Portland Fire Bureau is once again reminding residents that fireworks are illegal within city limits and is encouraging people to attend professional displays to ensure safety during the holiday season.

Similar year-round bans are in effect across cities including Eugene, Milwaukie, The Dalles and numerous other densely populated areas.

In Gresham and Troutdale, while there isn’t a citywide ban, there are restrictions in line with state laws. Fireworks are prohibited in all city parks.

Lincoln County

In Lincoln County, officials have banned the use of fireworks in coastal cities including Yachats, Waldport, Depoe Bay and Lincoln City.

The city of Newport, which typically allows for legal firework use, enacted a ban this summer, effective through Oct. 15, amid a heightened risk of wildfires.

Clark County

Firework sales in Clark County began June 28.

According to the county, residents can use fireworks in unincorporated Clark County from 9 a.m. to midnight only on Independence Day. Firework use outside of these hours leaves violators subject to a $500 fine.

The Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency has established a complaint hotline for reporting nuisance fireworks. Residents are asked to not contact 911 for firework complaints unless there is an emergency.

Similar to Oregon, Clark County has banned numerous types of explosives, including firecrackers, bottle rockets and homemade devices.

The city of Vancouver has also banned fireworks within its city limits.

Oregon State Fire Marshall Spokesperson John Hendricks hopes residents will skip the personal fireworks all together and instead attend professional displays.

“I know the drone shows have become popular across the West over the last few years so maybe check out one of those as well,” Hendricks said.

According to Hendricks, temperatures heading into this weekend are expected to warm up.

“[We] are really asking folks to be careful with using fireworks especially with the heightened fire danger,” Hendricks said. ”Especially on the eastern side of the state.”

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/06/30/firework-bans-restrictions-oregon-july-4-independence-day/