Letting off fireworks

It is a common misconception that you can only let fireworks off on or around Guy Fawkes. You can in fact let fireworks off any time of year and any day of the week including Sundays, but you must NOT let them off between 11pm and 7am.

Exceptions to the 11pm rule are:

• November 5th (Bonfire Night / Guy Fawkes): You can let fireworks off until midnight.
• December 31st (New Year’s Eve): You can let fireworks off until 1am.
• Diwali: You can let fireworks off until 1am.
• Chinese New Year: You can let fireworks off until 1am.

It is courtesy to notify your neighbours if you are having a display especially if it is not on November 5th or New Year’s Eve.

It is illegal to let fireworks off in the street or a public place. You should only let fireworks off on private land such as your garden or on land where you have the landowner’s permission

It is not a legal requirement to have any form of licence or training to let off consumer fireworks. However for larger displays which are insured, some form of training may be a requirement of the underwriters.

Further information

Firework laws are often subject to change and in some cases open to interpretation. For further information visit the Hertfordshire County Council website where you can also apply for an explosives licence