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NORTH DAKOTA · FIREWORKS

North Dakota Fireworks

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Conditional
North Dakota statewide rule

North Dakota bans fireworks except a short list of consumer items retailers may sell to people 12 and older — star lights; helicopter-type flyers; cylindrical and cone fountains; wheels; illuminating torches and colored fire; sparklers and dipped sticks; comets or shells with an integral mortar that make no audible report (40 g max); soft-shell firecrackers up to 50 mg; and whistles without report (NDCC 23-15-01, 23-15-02). Violations are a class B misdemeanor (23-15-06). Cities may be stricter.

§ ndlegis.gov
Verified Oct 26, 2026Reviewed
What the official source says
“Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person may offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at retail, bring into this state or cause to be brought into this state, or use or explode any fireworks.”

Read on Oct 26, 2026 from ndlegis.gov.

Checked once · Oct 26, 2026

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Every Fireworks rule LawLert has for North Dakota

Each rule below is the full statewide entry, with the official source it rests on and the date it was last checked.

Restricted

North Dakota allows only the items listed in NDCC 23-15-01: star lights; helicopter-type flyers; cylindrical and cone fountains; wheels; illuminating torches and colored fire; sparklers and dipped sticks; comets or shells with an integral mortar that make no audible report (40 g max); soft-shell firecrackers up to 50 mg; and whistles without report. Small bottle rockets (under 5/8 inch by 3.5 inches) may not be sold, and selling, bringing in or using any other fireworks is a class B misdemeanor (NDCC 23-15-02, 23-15-06). Cities may be stricter.

§ ndlegis.govVerified Oct 26, 2026Reviewed
What the official source says
“may offer for sale and sell at retail that year, to any individual who is at least twelve years of age, only during the periods of June twenty-seventh through July fifth and December twenty-sixth through January first, the following items”

Read on Oct 26, 2026 from ndlegis.gov.

Checked once · Oct 26, 2026

Full rule, with nearby states →

Info

North Dakota's fireworks chapter (NDCC 23-15) sets no separate statewide dates or hours for using fireworks; check local ordinances, which may be stricter. Licensed retailers may sell only from June 27 through July 5 and from December 26 through January 1, to buyers at least 12 (NDCC 23-15-01).

§ ndlegis.govVerified Oct 26, 2026Reviewed
What the official source says
“may offer for sale and sell at retail that year, to any individual who is at least twelve years of age, only during the periods of June twenty-seventh through July fifth and December twenty-sixth through January first, the following items”

Read on Oct 26, 2026 from ndlegis.gov.

Checked once · Oct 26, 2026

Full rule, with nearby states →

Info

In North Dakota you must be 12 to buy fireworks, which are sold by retailers licensed by the county sheriff during the legal sale windows. Only licensed wholesalers and retailers may import fireworks into the state.

§ ndlegis.govVerified Oct 26, 2026Reviewed
What the official source says
“may offer for sale and sell at retail that year, to any individual who is at least twelve years of age, only during the periods of June twenty-seventh through July fifth and December twenty-sixth through January first, the following items”

Read on Oct 26, 2026 from ndlegis.gov.

Checked once · Oct 26, 2026

Conditional

In North Dakota, retailers licensed by the county sheriff may sell only the items listed in NDCC 23-15-01 — star lights; helicopter-type flyers; cylindrical and cone fountains; wheels; illuminating torches and colored fire; sparklers and dipped sticks; comets or shells with an integral mortar that make no audible report (40 g max); soft-shell firecrackers up to 50 mg; and whistles without report — to buyers at least 12, from June 27 through July 5 and December 26 through January 1. Aerial cakes, Roman candles and other unlisted items may not be sold.

§ ndlegis.govVerified Oct 26, 2026Reviewed
What the official source says
“may offer for sale and sell at retail that year, to any individual who is at least twelve years of age, only during the periods of June twenty-seventh through July fifth and December twenty-sixth through January first, the following items”

Read on Oct 26, 2026 from ndlegis.gov.

Checked once · Oct 26, 2026

Conditional

In North Dakota, consumers need no personal permit. Retailers are licensed by the county sheriff and distributors by the state fire marshal (NDCC 23-15-04); retail sales run June 27–July 5 and December 26–January 1. A public display needs a permit applied for with the city auditor (county auditor outside a city) at least 15 days in advance, unless a city or fair association puts it on within its own limits (NDCC 23-15-03).

§ ndlegis.govVerified Oct 26, 2026Reviewed
What the official source says
“An application for a license as a retailer must be made to the county sheriff on forms prescribed by the state fire marshal.”

Read on Oct 26, 2026 from ndlegis.gov.

Checked once · Oct 26, 2026

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