Your Tri-Cities fireworks guide. What’s allowed in Kennewick, Richland, Pasco and beyond

Karlee Van De Venter

Planning for Fourth of July celebrations in Tri-Cities can be complicated, since each city has its own municipal code and subsequently, its own firework regulations. Kennewick and Richland now have similar regulations, distinct from those in Pasco.

Residents in unincorporated areas of Benton and Franklin counties will have to refer to county codes.

Depending on where you celebrate, you may have different guidelines than friends who live in a nearby city or county.

It’s crucial to know what’s legal where you are, especially if you buy fireworks in a different place. To be safe, buy fireworks in the city you want to set them off in if you can.

If you buy your fireworks elsewhere, like on a reservation, ask the salesperson if they’re familiar with the regulations in your area.

Ask for recommendations based on your location. If you’re buying fireworks and already know what is not allowed in your area, you can buy smarter and faster.

No matter where you are in Tri-Cities, there are specific times when fireworks can be set off.

  • June 28: Noon to 11 p.m.

  • June 29-July 3: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

  • July 4: 9 a.m. to midnight

  • July 5: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Note: Each city may refer to the same type of fireworks in different ways, or define a group of fireworks with different criteria. Language used is a reflection of each city’s individual guidelines.

Firework types and regulations in Kennewick

The city of Kennewick eased its fireworks regulations for 2023, allowing fireworks for the first time in decades. The following kinds of fireworks are now legal in city limits:

Cylindrical Fountain: Creates a shower of sparks, and sometimes whistling, when lit

Cone Fountain: Creates a shower of sparks, and sometimes whistling, when lit

Parachutes: Propels at least one parachute into the air with stars and smoke when lit

Wheels: When attached to a post or tree, spins around after being lit, releasing color and sparks and sometimes whistling

Wire sparkler/Dipped sticks/Illuminated Torch: Coated stick or wire that creates sparks when lit. Cannot have more than 100 grams of pyrotechnic composition per individual item

Sparkling Devices: Ground and handheld devices that create colored sparks or flames, crackling and whistling noises and smoke when lit

Novelties: All small firework devices that are not considered consumer or display fireworks

You must be 16 or older to set off fireworks. If 16 or 17, adult supervision is required.

Firework regulations in Richland

In Richland, you cannot use the following fireworks:

  • Ground spinners: Spin freely on the ground with colored sparks

  • Mine/shell: Tube that stays on the ground and propels sparks like shooting stars

  • Smoke device: White or colored smoke, tube or sphere device

  • Roman candle: Tube (heavier than a mine or shell) that fires out sparks like stars

  • Rockets: Bottle rockets and skyrockets

  • Firecrackers

  • Any combination of the above

You must be 16 or older to buy or use fireworks in Richland. Breaking any of these rules could lead to a $250 fine and firework confiscation.

Firework regulations in Pasco

Pasco only allows seven types of fireworks within the city:

  • Smoke devices: White or colored smoke, tube or sphere device

  • Cone fountain: Produces colorful sparks when lit, sometimes also a whistling effect

  • Cylindrical fountain: Produces colorful sparks when lit, sometimes also a whistling effect

  • Ground spinner: Wheel that spins on the ground freely when lit and creates sparks

  • Dipped stick/sparkler: Coated wire or stick that creates sparks when lit. Cannot have more than 100 grams of pyrotechnic composition per individual item

  • Wheels: Spins when attached to a post or tree and lit, sending sparks of color and sometimes whistling

  • Novelties: All small firework devices that are not considered consumer or display fireworks

Breaking these rules can lead to a $250 fine and firework confiscation.

Firework regulations in West Richland

The City of West Richland has more strict rules regarding when fireworks can be set off:

  • July 2-3: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

  • July 4: 6 p.m. to midnight

The following fireworks can be set off in West Richland:

  • Dipped stick/sparkler: Coated stick or wire that creates sparks when lit.

  • Cylindrical fountain: Tube that creates colored sparks and sometimes whistling when lit

  • Cone fountain: Cone that creates colored sparks and sometimes whistling when lit

  • Illuminating torch: Tube that creates colored fire3 when lit

  • Wheel: When attached to a post or tree, spins when lit creating colored sparks and sometimes whistling

  • Ground spinner: Spinning device that stays on the ground and creates sparks when lit

  • Glitter sparkler: Narrow tube that creates sparks when lit

You must be 16 or older to set off fireworks. If 16 or 17, adult supervision is required. Breaking any of these rules can lead to a fine of up to $500 and a gross misdemeanor.

Firework regulations in Benton County

Fireworks hours in the rest of Benton County are similar, but allow day-of celebrations to last a bit longer.

  • June 28: Noon to 11 p.m.

  • June 29-July 3: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

  • July 4: 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. July 5

  • July 5: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

  • July 6: 1 a.m. to noon

The following kinds of fireworks are not allowed in unincorporated Benton County:

  • Helicopter/aerial spinner: Tube with propeller or blade that spins when lit, lifting the device into the air and releasing an effect at the peak

  • Ground spinner/Mine/shell: Tube placed on the ground, releases firecrackers or sparks like stars into the air when lit

  • Rockets: Skyrocket and missile-type. When lit, fly into air and release color or noise at the peak

  • Firecracker/salute: Wrapped tube that creates a flash of light and noise when lit

  • Chaser: Tube that travels along the ground with a whistling sound when lit

  • Roman candle: Tube that releases pellets of composition (like stars) in intervals

  • Smoke device: White or colored smoke, tube or sphere device

  • Jumping jacks: Tube that bounces around and flashes when lit

  • Any combination of the above

You must be 16 years old or older to use any approved fireworks without adult supervision.

In Benton County, breaking these rules is considered a criminal misdemeanor and can result in a fine of up to $1,000

Where fireworks are banned

Fireworks are banned in Prosser and in unincorporated Franklin County.

Kaleb Little helps Amanda Youngs and JoLayne Thompson, from left, place U.S. Flags on the family run Youngs Fireworks stand at the intersection of South Washington Street and 10th Avenue Wednesday morning in Kennewick. They were getting prepared for the statewide noon kickoff for the start of Fourth of July fireworks sales. Fourth of July fireworks can be purchased in Kennewick and set off to celebrate the holiday for the first time in more than 30 years. The last Independence Day that personal fireworks were legal in the city was 1991, the year that fireworks were believed to have caused $608,000 damage to the Knolls apartment complex on Grand Ronde Ave. in Kennewick, prompting the city to adopt the strictest fireworks regulations in the Tri-Cities. Bob Brawdy/bbrawdy@tricityherald.com

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