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Rhode Island allows consumers only ground-based and hand-held sparkling devices (fountains, illuminating torches, wheels, ground spinners, flitter sparklers, sparkers) and novelties (party poppers, snappers, toy smoke devices, snakes, glow worms, wire sparklers, dipped sticks), for people at least 16 years old (R.I. Gen. Laws 11-13-1(a)). No one may sell, possess, use or explode display fireworks (1.3G) or aerial consumer fireworks (1.4G aerial devices) without permits under the Fire Safety Code. A violation is a felony punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to one year in prison per offense; using or possessing with intent to use unpermitted display or aerial fireworks worth under $500 is a misdemeanor, up to $500 and/or up to one year (11-13-1(b)).
“No person shall offer for sale at retail or at wholesale, shall possess or have under his or her control, use or explode, or cause to explode for exhibition or amusement, display fireworks or aerial consumer fireworks unless permits are obtained”
Read on Nov 13, 2026 from webserver.rilegislature.gov.
Checked once · Nov 13, 2026
Each rule below is the full statewide entry, with the official source it rests on and the date it was last checked.
Rhode Island allows ground and hand-held sparklers, fountains, torches, wheels, spinners, party poppers, snappers, snakes, glow worms, smoke devices, and dipped sticks — nothing that rises, fires a projectile, or makes a report. Illegal: any firecracker, rocket, mortar, aerial, or device that launches a projectile or makes a report; sky lanterns are also banned.
Full rule, with nearby states →Rhode Island sets no date or time window for legal fireworks: the storage, possession, sale, transportation and use of ground-based and hand-held sparkling devices and novelties "shall be allowed at all times throughout the state" for people at least 16 years old (R.I. Gen. Laws 11-13-1(a)). That year-round allowance covers only those non-aerial items; display and aerial consumer fireworks are illegal at any time without a permit. Check with your local fire department about property-specific limits before you light anything.
“shall be allowed at all times throughout the state for persons at least sixteen (16) years of age”
Read on Nov 13, 2026 from webserver.rilegislature.gov.
Checked once · Nov 13, 2026
In Rhode Island you must be 16 to buy, use, or possess the legal sparkling devices. Aerials and firecrackers sold in nearby New Hampshire and Maine remain illegal to possess or use in Rhode Island.
In Rhode Island, stores may sell consumers only ground-based and hand-held sparkling devices (fountains, torches, wheels, ground spinners, sparklers) and novelties such as party poppers, snappers, snakes and glow worms, to buyers at least 16 years old (R.I. Gen. Laws 11-13-1(a)). Offering display or aerial consumer fireworks for sale at retail or wholesale requires a Fire Safety Code permit and is otherwise a felony; sale for shipment out of state is allowed only to permit holders. Aerial fireworks bought legally in a neighboring state remain illegal to possess or use in Rhode Island without a permit.
“Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a felony and shall be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each offense”
Read on Nov 13, 2026 from webserver.rilegislature.gov.
Checked once · Nov 13, 2026
Rhode Island issues no consumer permit for aerial or display fireworks: they may be sold, possessed or used only with permits issued under the Rhode Island Fire Safety Code (chapters 28.1–28.39 of title 23), and only for commercial display (R.I. Gen. Laws 11-13-1(a)). A public display by a town, fair, amusement park or group must be made by a competent operator approved by the local fire authority. Ground-based and hand-held sparkling devices and novelties need no permit for anyone 16 or older. Unpermitted aerial or display fireworks are a felony (up to $1,000 and/or one year), or a misdemeanor if worth under $500.
“on condition that the display shall be made by a competent operator approved by the local fire authority”
Read on Nov 13, 2026 from webserver.rilegislature.gov.
Checked once · Nov 13, 2026
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