Is your neighbor a jerk? How late is too late for fireworks in Indiana? 🧨

Yahoo

08-07-2025

It's late and you're relaxing at home when suddenly you hear a deafening boom that rattles your windows. It's not gunshots or thunder; it's fireworks.
Hoosiers are gearing up once again for the Fourth of July. And just like every year, many across Indiana are celebrating early — but is that legal?
Restrictions on Indiana's fireworks, to put it bluntly, are more lax than a pyromaniac in a room full of sparklers. The Hoosier State has some of the most lenient laws in the country. Shooting them off from your backyard still carries plenty of rules and responsibilities, however, that can be costly to ignore.
Here's what you should know in 2025 about what you can and can't do with fireworks in Indiana, the penalties you could face (we're talking felonies, here), as well as important safety tips to keep you out of the emergency room.
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In the Hoosier State, it's legal to set off fireworks from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round unless a local ordinance says otherwise, according to the Indiana State Police. On certain holidays, such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and New Year's Eve, that time extends to midnight.
There are 11 days near the Fourth of July — June 29 to July 9 — when local ordinances cannot prohibit Hoosiers from shooting off consumer fireworks in Indiana. They include these dates and times:
June 29-July 3: from 5 p.m. until two hours after sunset.
July 4: from 10 a.m. to midnight.
July 5-9: from 5 p.m. until two hours after sunset.
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You must be an adult, 18 or older, to buy fireworks in the Hoosier State. An adult, 18 or older, must also be present when children use or possess fireworks.
According to state law, you can use fireworks only on your own property, the property of someone who has granted you permission to use fireworks, or a place designated by the Indiana State Fire Marshal for the discharge of consumer fireworks.
Indiana recognizes two primary types of fireworks: consumer and display. Here's what you need to know about both.
Consumer fireworks: These are small devices that are frequently sold at retail outlets across Indiana. They're classified as "1.4g," which describes the hazard level they pose for storage purposes.
Display fireworks: These are considered more dangerous and illegal in Indiana without state and federal permits. They're classified as "1.3g" and are subject to stricter restrictions.
If you plan on purchasing fireworks to celebrate July 4th, buy from a reputable dealer. You should also watch out for the following warning signs when buying fireworks. They might be Illegal if:
The fireworks are in brown paper wrapping instead of cellophane.
The boxes have no graphics or markings.
The fireworks are being sold in a non-commercial location, such as a vehicle or residence.
The seller has no evidence of a receipt or commercial packaging.
The seller cannot say where the firework was originally purchased.
If you spot any of these warning signs, don't buy those fireworks. The Department of Homeland Security in Indiana advises you to report the seller to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) at 1-888-283-2662.
Yes, cherry bombs — round, red explosive devices 1" in diameter and containing more than 50mg of powder — have been illegal in the U.S. since 1966. Other illegal fireworks that should be reported to law enforcement include M-80s, M-100s or silver salutes, M-250s, M-1000s or quarter sticks.
Those who violate fireworks laws in Indiana can be charged with a class 'C' infraction, according to the Indiana State Police. However, if a person recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally uses fireworks that damage property, they can be charged with a class A misdemeanor. The penalties get harsher if someone gets injured or dies.
Here are five things you should know.
Anyone younger than 18 using fireworks when an adult is not present is subject to a Class C misdemeanor, which may result in a maximum fine of $500 per citation.
Illegal use of fireworks at an unapproved location is subject to a maximum fine of $500 per citation. Multiple citations in a five-year period result in a Class C misdemeanor, subject to a $500 fine and 60 days in jail.
Damaging someone else's property with fireworks is a Class A misdemeanor and can result in a $5,000 maximum fine and up to one year in prison.
Causing personal injury to someone else with fireworks is a Level 6 felony and may result in a $10,000 maximum fine and six months to 2 1/2 years in prison with an advisory sentence of one year.
A fatal fireworks accident is considered a Level 5 felony and may result in a $10,000 maximum fine and one to six years in prison with an advisory sentence of three years.
These laws exist, of course, because people have been seriously injured by the careless use of fireworks.
Fireworks sent an astonishing number of people to the hospital in 2024, numbers that rose sharply by 38% compared to the previous year. Sparkler-related injuries alone cost 1,700 people a trip to the emergency room, according to an estimate by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Overall, nearly 15,000 people were treated for firework-related injuries in hospital emergency rooms across the country last year, in which 11 people died, according to the CPSC. The most common type of injury was burn wounds to hands and fingers.
Image courtesy of CPSC.
For ground-based devices such as fountains, according to Homeland Security, the perimeter should be 35 feet out. For aerial devices, it should be 150 feet. Fireworks that don't go off when you light them can still explode.
Save yourself and others a trip to the emergency room this Fourth of July by keeping the following fireworks safety tips in mind:
When buying fireworks:
Purchase fireworks from a reputable dealer.
Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Do not attempt to make or alter any fireworks or firework devices.
Parents:
Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
Always supervise children when handling sparklers, which can burn up to 1,800 degrees or hotter.
Adults handling fireworks:
Always have a bucket of water, garden hose or fire extinguisher with you when setting off fireworks.
Never smoke or consume alcohol when lighting fireworks.
Only light one firework at a time.
Use extreme caution when lighting fireworks in the wind. Keep spectators away from where the wind is blowing to avoid smoke and possible debris.
Never place a part of your body directly over a firework or hold a firework in your hand when lighting.
Never point a firework at another person.
After a firework has finished burning, douse it with plenty of water before throwing it away to prevent starting a trash fire.
Did the firework not go off?
Never attempt to re-light or fix a 'dud' firework.
Let duds sit for five or 10 minutes before you pick them up to dowse them in water.
Watching fireworks?
Steer clear of others setting off fireworks. They can backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction.
John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at [e-mail]. Find him on BlueSky at JohnWritesStuff.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: What time can you do fireworks in Indiana? Know these rules in 2025