It’s Illegal To Shoot Off Fireworks During These Times In Iowa

Warmer weather is here, my wife and I have a new baby at home, and my neighbors think it's cool to shoot off bottle rockets and fireworks during the day. Sure, I'm mad they keep waking up my baby but talk about a waste of a good firework.

As much as my last name is Kenney, I assure you I'm not a Ken or a Chad or whatever the male version of Karen is. I think you can hop on board with my frustration, especially with a newborn at home who likes to sleep a lot.

Yes, I'm dealing with my neighbors in a civil way, but if you have neighbors who don't know the law in their city about when it's okay to shoot off fireworks, let me educate you so you can educate them or call the cops.

When Can You Shoot Off Fireworks In Iowa?

Great question. Buying fireworks in Iowa and setting them off go hand-in-hand, depending on where you live. The state of Iowa law has parameters but cities can set their own ordinances like Davenport and Bettendorf, or prohibit them like Des Moines.

In Iowa, a permanent building can conduct the sales of fireworks between June 1st and July 8th, and again from December 10th and January 3rd. Temporary structures are only allowed to conduct sales between June 13th and July 8th.

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Iowa laws allow individuals to use or explode consumer fireworks between June 1st through July 8th and December 10th through January 3rd every year. Fireworks can only be used between these hours:

• 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.
• 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 4 and the following Saturday and Sunday
• 9 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Deember. 31, including the following Saturday and Sunday

In Davenport and Bettendorf, things are a little stricter. This is the ordinance for fireworks use in Davenport:

• July 3 (5:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M.)
• July 4 (5:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M.)
• December 31 (10:00 P.M. – 12:30 A.M. On January 1)

In Bettendorf, consumer fireworks are restricted to July 3 and July 4 from 2:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. each day. Also, the night of December 31 from 10:00 p.m. until 12:30 a.m., the immediate following day.

In both Davenport and Bettendorf, the use of any consumer firework at a date or time other than those allowed is prohibited and punishable as a simple misdemeanor:

• First Offense - $250 + Court Costs (Totaling About $400)
• Second Offense - $400 + Court Costs
• Third And Subsequent - $625 + Court Costs

When Can I Shoot Off Fireworks in Illinois?

Never. It's illegal. Don't be that person.