Fireworks are legal in Fontana only in a narrow form and a narrow window: Safe and Sane fireworks bearing the California State Fire Marshal’s seal, sold and used between June 28 and July 5, with discharge allowed from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on those days. Everything else — aerial devices, anything that explodes, anything used outside those dates or hours — is illegal, and Fontana’s administrative fines run from $2,500 to $10,000, with California misdemeanor charges possible on top.
What Counts as Legal
Only Safe and Sane fireworks are permitted. These are ground-based devices like fountains, sparklers, and novelty items that stay in one spot. They don’t explode, launch into the air, or skitter along the ground. The way to confirm a product is legal is the California State Fire Marshal’s Seal of Registration printed on the packaging.1Legal Information Institute. 19 CCR 987.6 – State Fire Marshals Seal of Registration No seal, no legal use in Fontana, no matter where you bought it.
Illegal fireworks across San Bernardino County include M-80s, bottle rockets, firecrackers, roman candles, and mortars.2City of Fontana. Fireworks Information Anything airborne, explosive, or unpredictable is prohibited, and the city enforces a zero-tolerance policy. Possession alone is enough to draw a citation.
When and Where You Can Use Them
Safe and Sane fireworks can be sold from noon on June 28 through July 5, and they can be discharged on those same days between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.2City of Fontana. Fireworks Information Lighting them before 9:00 a.m., after 11:00 p.m., or on any date outside that window is a citable offense even if the product itself is legal.
Under Fontana Municipal Code Section 15-616, Safe and Sane fireworks may only be used on private property or in public parks and areas approved by the fire chief.2City of Fontana. Fireworks Information You need the property owner’s consent before lighting anything on land that isn’t yours. Parking lots, vacant lots, public streets, and sidewalks are all off-limits. Keep them away from dry brush and structures. Portions of the city north of Summit Avenue, west of Interstate 15, and east of Lytle Creek Road are designated a high fire hazard area, where additional restrictions may apply.
Fontana’s Fines for Illegal Fireworks
Administrative fines for possessing or using illegal fireworks in Fontana range from $2,500 to $10,000.2City of Fontana. Fireworks Information These are issued through the city’s administrative citation system, so you don’t have to be criminally convicted to owe the money. Property owners can be cited too if they allow illegal fireworks to be stored or set off on their land.3San Bernardino County Fire Protection District. Fireworks Safety Intent doesn’t matter, and not knowing the rule isn’t a defense.
State Criminal Penalties
California treats illegal fireworks as a criminal matter separately from any city fine. Under Health and Safety Code Section 12700, a general violation is a misdemeanor carrying a $500 to $1,000 fine, up to one year in county jail, or both. Penalties scale with the amount of dangerous fireworks involved:4California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Fireworks Violations Reference
- Under 25 pounds: misdemeanor, $500 to $1,000 fine, up to one year in jail, or both. A second conviction raises the minimum fine to $1,000.
- 25 to 100 pounds: $1,000 to $5,000 fine, up to one year in jail, or both.
- 100 to 5,000 pounds: $5,000 to $10,000 fine, up to one year in county jail or state prison, or both.
- Over 5,000 pounds: $10,000 to $50,000 fine, up to one year in county jail or state prison, or both.
Criminal penalties stack on top of Fontana’s administrative fines. If a fire starts, the person responsible also faces potential charges tied to any property damage or injuries.3San Bernardino County Fire Protection District. Fireworks Safety
If Someone Gets Hurt or Property Burns
Even with legal Safe and Sane fireworks, you are personally responsible for any injuries or property damage that follows. A tipped fountain that scorches a neighbor’s fence, a spark that burns a guest — the liability lands on the person who lit it and, often, the property owner who allowed it.
Homeowners and renters policies generally cover fireworks incidents under personal liability, but coverage has limits. Insurers can deny claims tied to intentional acts or gross negligence, and using illegal fireworks is the kind of conduct that typically voids coverage. When that happens, fire damage and medical bills come out of your pocket on top of the fines and any criminal exposure.
Reporting Illegal Fireworks
To report illegal fireworks in Fontana, call the San Bernardino County Fire Department at 909-428-8890 or the Fontana Police Department.3San Bernardino County Fire Protection District. Fireworks Safety