What to Know About Iowa's New Fireworks Law Ahead of July 4

Your support keeps truth alive in Decorah—donate to local news today! As Iowans prepare to celebrate the 4th of July, a new state law going into effect Tuesday will loosen restrictions on setting off fireworks on July 3 and 4 in some communities. Senate File 303 was signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds in May. The law, which takes effect July 1, prevents county boards of supervisors and city councils from banning and limiting the use of consumer fireworks on July 3, 4 and Dec. 31 that are more restrictive than state regulations. Iowa local governments have the ability to set regulations on fireworks in their jurisdictions. Iowa communities like Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Dubuque ban the use of consumer fireworks within city limits. Others, like Waterloo, Ankeny and Davenport, have restrictions on fireworks being set off outside of certain dates—typically for Fourth of July and New Year's Eve celebrations. The Des Moines City Council—as well as several other local government bodies—have made changes, or are in the process of aligning their local ordinances with the new state law, which requires all local jurisdictions to suspend limits on consumer fireworks for celebrations on these three days. However, it still allows local governments to keep in place bans and limits on fireworks for other times of the year, in addition to requiring Iowans to still follow other regulations on fireworks use existing in state code. Iowa law limits the legal use of all fireworks to be between June 1 through July 8 and Dec. 10 through Jan. 3 of each year. During these timeframes, consumer fireworks can only be set off between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. each day. Fireworks are allowed to be set off until 11 p.m. on July 4 and the weekends before and after the Fourth of July, and can be set off from 9 a.m. Dec. 31 until 12:30 a.m. Jan. 1. State code also contains other regulations on fireworks, including a ban on the sale of fireworks to people under age 18 and a prohibition on individuals and organizations setting off "display" fireworks—bigger fireworks often used in professional shows—without permission from their local government. Setting off fireworks in a public park or other city property is also still banned without local approval, as state law bans the use of consumer fireworks outside of a person's own property or that of someone who has consented to fireworks being used at their property. The city of Des Moines issued a news release Wednesday warning Iowans that while the state law has changed, fireworks can still not be set off at Des Moines parks or on streets and sidewalks. The news release said in 2024, a third of the city's 77 parks reported damage or needed cleanup because of unlawful fireworks use, with some parks needing to be shut down to address damages. "We ask that our residents use fireworks during the permitted times and in the permitted locations respectfully this year," Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen said in the release. "That means keeping fireworks to private property and especially out of our Parks to preserve those spaces for our community to use." When the law was moving through the Iowa Legislature earlier this year, Democrats speaking on behalf of local governments and law enforcement criticized the measure, saying the areas that had banned consumer fireworks because of the public safety hazards caused by fireworks. But Republicans, including Rep. Bill Gustoff, R-Des Moines, floor manager for the measure in the House, said the change was needed to allow Iowans to fully celebrate the Fourth of July without fear of breaking local laws. Gustoff said allowing these celebrations was especially important this year in light of President Donald Trump's plan to launch celebrations in Iowa leading up to the nation's 250th anniversary July 4, 2026. Trump will hold an event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds July 3. Unlock a world of knowledge! Sign up for free DecorahNews.com newsletters and receive local news, local events and everything that is happening in and around Decorah.