Fireworks By-law

1. Short title

1.1. This By-Law shall be known as the "Fireworks By-Law".

2. Definitions

"Act" means the Explosives Act (R.S., 1985, c. E-17) (Canada) and the regulations enacted there under.

"Chief Fire Official" means the Chief Fire Official of Norfolk County appointed under the authority of the Fire Prevention and Protection Act, designate or authority having jurisdiction..

"Display Fireworks Manual" means the manual released by Natural Resources Canada: Explosives Regulatory Division as amended
"Firecracker" means a pyrotechnic device that explodes when ignited and does not make any subsequent display or visible effect after the explosion, and includes devices commonly known as Chinese firecrackers.

"Fireworks" means Display Fireworks, Pyrotechnic Special Effects Fireworks and Family Fireworks and:

"Family Fireworks" means an outdoor, low hazard, recreational firework that is classed as a Subdivision 1 of Division 2 of Class 7 fireworks under the Act and includes fireworks showers, fountains, golden rain, lawnlights, pin wheels, Roman candles, volcanoes, and sparklers, but does not include Christmas crackers or caps for toy guns containing not in excess of twenty-five one hundredths of a grain of explosive used per cap.

"Display Fireworks" means an outdoor, high hazard, recreational firework that is classed as Subdivision 2 of Division 2 of Class 7 Fireworks under the Act, and includes rockets, serpents, shells, bombshells, tourbillions, maroons, large wheels, bouquets, bombardos, waterfalls, fountains, batteries, illuminations, set pieces, and pigeons but does not include firecrackers.

"Fireworks Supervisor" means a Person who is an approved purchaser of Display Fireworks and who is qualified under the Act to supervise the discharge of Display Fireworks.

"Licence" means a licence or permit issued by the Licencing Officer of Norfolk County.

"Licencing Officer" means the Clerk/Manager of Council Services, or designate.

"Municipal Law Enforcement Officer" means a person appointed by the Council of Norfolk County for the purposes of enforcing County by-laws and for the purposes of this By-Law shall include the Ontario Provincial Police or any other police agency.

"Norfolk County" means The Corporation of Norfolk County.

"Owner" means the Person who owns the Property and, for the purposes of this By-Law, shall include any owner, occupant, tenant or lessee.

"Person" means the Owner and may also include any individual, company, corporation, partnership, firm, trust, sole proprietorship, government or government agency, authority or entity, however constituted, joint venture, syndicate or any other legal entity, and includes all successors, assigns or other legal representatives of any such entities. A person shall not include a Pyrotechnician as defined in this By-Law.

"Property" means any parcel of land or registered water lot and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall mean lands and premises appurtenant to a building or structure whether residential or commercial but shall exclude any building or structure.

"Pyrotechnic Special Effect" means compositions, articles and devices created for the purpose of entertainment through the use of pyrotechnic, propellant and explosive materials

"Pyrotechnician" means the Person certified by Natural Resources Canada to conduct a public or private Pyrotechnic Special Effects Display

"Pyrotechnics" means the sciences of materials capable of undergoing self contained and self-sustained exothermic chemical reactions for the production of heat, light, gas, smoke and/or sound.

"Pyrotechnics Special Effects Manual" means the manual released by Natural Resources Canada: Explosives Regulatory Division as amended

"Retail Sale" means a sale for the purpose of consumption or use and not for resale and includes sale by auction.

"Shop" means a building or part of a building, booth, stall, trailer, vehicle, or place where goods are exposed and offered for sale.

"Vehicle" shall include a motor vehicle, trailer, recreational vehicle, camper, all terrain vehicle, mobile home, boat, watercraft, traction engine, farm tractor, road building machine and a vehicle drawn, propelled or driven by any kind of power, including a motorized snow vehicle, or the cars of electric or steam railways running only upon rails.

3. General provisions

3.1. General

a) No Person shall store, handle, sell, or display Fireworks except in accordance with the Act and this By-Law.

b) No Person shall store, handle, sell, or display Fireworks without written permission of the Chief Fire Official.

c) No Person under the age of eighteen (18) years shall possess Fireworks.

3.2. Firecrackers

a) No Person shall offer for sale, cause to be sold, or sell Firecrackers.

b) No Person shall set off, or cause to be set off any Firecrackers.

c) No Person shall possess Firecrackers

3.3. Family Fireworks -  Sale

a) No Person shall sell any Family Fireworks to any Person under the age of eighteen (18) years.

b) No Person shall display and/or sell any Family Fireworks except on Canada Day, July 4th , Labour Day, New Year's Eve, and on the day fixed by proclamation for the observance of Victoria Day, or any other such day as is proclaimed by the Council of Norfolk County as a suitable patriotic celebration, and the preceding seven (7) days in each case.

c) No Person shall advertise the sale of Family Fireworks except on Canada Day, July 4th, Labour Day, New Year's Eve and on the day fixed by proclamation for the observance of Victoria Day, or any other such day as is proclaimed by the Council of Norfolk County as a suitable patriotic celebration, and the preceding twenty-one (21) days in each case.

d) No Person shall sell to any person any Family Fireworks, of a type or the setting off of which is prohibited by the provisions of this By-Law or the Act.

e) No Person shall display, sell or offer or expose for sale any Family Fireworks without first obtaining a Licence to do so from the Licencing Officer by completing in its entirety a "Retail of Family Fireworks Form" and such Licence application is approved by the Chief Fire Official and after paying the appropriate non-refundable application fees as set out in the Norfolk County Fees By-Law.

f) The holder of a Licence issued under Subsection 3.3 (e) shall prominently display the Licence in the place of business where the Fireworks are being offered for sale and such Licence shall be produced to any Municipal Law Enforcement Officer upon request.

g) No Person shall ignite, discharge or set off any Family Fireworks after the Hour of 11:00 p.m. (local time) and on the day of, each of 2 days previous to, or 1 day following the days established by Section 3.3 (b).

h) No Person shall smoke or use an open flame, such as a lighter, match or torch, in a room or space where Fireworks are stored or displayed or in any case less than 3 metres from any fireworks.

3.4. Family Fireworks - Discharging

a) No Person shall ignite, set off or have a display of Family Fireworks on any Property unless such Person is the owner of that Property or has written permission to do so by the owner of such Property.

b) No Person shall ignite, set off or have a display of Family Fireworks without the supervision of a responsible Person of at least eighteen (18) years of age.

c) The person in Subsection 3.4(b) shall have the necessary means readily at hand to summons the Fire Department.

d) No Person shall ignite, discharge or set off any Family Fireworks into or inside of any building, structure, vehicle, or on any other place or Property where such ignition, discharge or setting off may create a nuisance or safety hazard to any Person or Property.

e) No Person shall ignite, discharge or set off any Family Fireworks into or on Municipal Property including without limitation, streets, lanes, squares or other public places without written approval of the Licencing Officer.

f) No Person shall ignite, discharge or set off any Family Fireworks off of, or from the roof of any building or structure without written approval of the Chief Fire Official or designate.

g) No person shall ignite, discharge or set off any Family Fireworks after the hour of 11 pm (local time) on the day of, 2 days previous to, or 1 day following the days established by Section 3.3 (b).

3.5. Display Fireworks- Sale

a) No Person shall sell any Display Fireworks to any Person under the age of eighteen (18) years or to any Person unless they are qualified as a Fireworks Supervisor.

3.6. Display Fireworks - Discharging

a) No Person shall ignite, set off, or have a display of Display Fireworks on any Property unless such person is the owner of that Property or has written permission to do so by the owner of that Property.

b) No Person shall ignite, set off, or have a display of Display Fireworks unless such Person is qualified as a Fireworks Supervisor.

c) A Fireworks Supervisor shall produce a current certificate of qualification as issued by the Explosive Regulatory Division upon the request of any Municipal Law Enforcement Officer.

d) No Person shall ignite, set off, or have a display of Display Fireworks unless there is provided and maintained fully operational fire extinguishing equipment, ready for immediate use and present at all times and for a reasonable period thereafter at the location or site of the discharge of Display Fireworks.

e) No Person shall transport, setup, ignite, or operate Display Fireworks except in accordance with the requirements outlined in the Display Fireworks Manual and this By-Law.

3.7. Display Fireworks - Licencing

a) No Person shall ignite, set off, or have a display of Display Fireworks without first obtaining a Licence to do so from the Licencing Officer by completing in its entirety the current "Display Fireworks Event Form" and such Licence application is approved by the Chief Fire Official, and after paying the appropriate non-refundable application fees as set out in the Norfolk County Fees By-Law.

b) No Person shall ignite, set off, or have a display of Display Fireworks except in accordance with the information provided on the "Display Fireworks Event Form" required by Subsection 3.7 (a)

c) Every application shall be made not less than twenty one (21) days prior to the setting off of the Display Fireworks.

d) Every application for a Licence must include proof of liability insurance coverage for the setting off or holding of a display of Display Fireworks in the minimum amount of $2,000,000, and shall name Norfolk County as an additionally insured.

e) Every application shall state the name and contact information in which the Licence is to be issued, state the date, time, and location or site of the setting of the Display Fireworks and state the name and phone number of the Fireworks Supervisor.

f) Upon conclusion of the display, the Fireworks Supervisor shall walk the display site and fallout area. Any unused fireworks and all debris resulting therefrom shall be removed immediately and safely disposed of by the Licence holder.

3.8. Pyrotechnics

a) No Person shall conduct an event including Pyrotechnic Special Effects without the approval of the Chief Fire Official or designate

b) No Person shall transport, setup, ignite, or operate Pyrotechnic Special Effects except in accordance with the requirements outlined in the Pyrotechnic Special Effects Fireworks Manual.

c) An application for event approval shall be made using a current "Pyrotechnic Special Event Approval Form" approved by the Chief Fire Official, a "Pyro Effects Plan" for live entertainment containing the requirements as set out by the Chief Fire Official or a "Letter Of Intent" for film productions containing the requirements as required by the Chief Fire Official, and a letter from the venue's owner or agent granting permission for the use of pyrotechnic special effects. All forms must be submitted to the Chief Fire Official at least 1 month prior to the event.

4. Enforcement

(a) This By-Law shall be enforced by any Municipal Law Enforcement Officer.

(b) Any Municipal Law Enforcement Officer shall determine what shall constitute a health, fire or safety hazard.

(c) Any Municipal Law Enforcement Officer or the Licencing Officer . may revoke a Licence issued pursuant to this By-Law at any time. Terms and conditions of the Norfolk County Licencing By-Law as amended shall apply to Licences issued under this By-Law.

(d) In the case of a health, fire or safety hazard, any Municipal Law Enforcement Officer may compel that said hazard be removed forthwith without notice.

5. Penalty

Every Person who contravenes this By-Law is guilty of an offence and upon conviction is liable to a fine or penalty as provided for in the Provincial Offences Act, R.S.O. 1990, as amended.

6. Severability

In the event that any of the provisions of this By-Law are deemed ultra vires by any Court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining terms and provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

7. Repeal

Former Township of Delhi By-Law 78-96 and any amendments thereto. former Town of Simcoe By-Law 71-26, amendment 93-14 thereto, and any other amendments thereto, and former City of Nanticoke By-Law 54-93, amendment 98-93 thereto and any other amendments thereto, are hereby repealed in their entirety.

8. Effective date

The effective date of this By-Law shall be the date of final passage thereof.

Enacted and passed this 24th day of June 2008.

Amendments

This online version of the by-law includes the following amendments: 

• By-law 2010-111 - Being a By-law to amend By-law 2008-103, to regulate the sale, display and discharge of fireworks within Norfolk County.