It's the end of the year, which not only means presents and feasts; it also means the constant sound of fireworks shooting into the sky late at night throughout Texas. Folks across the Lone Star State will undoubtedly celebrate the holidays, including the final moments of New Year's Eve, by setting off noisemakers and light shows. But what do you need to know if you're hoping to join in on the fun?For one, you still have time to buy fireworks. This year, the Texas Department of Insurance permits businesses to sell fireworks starting D...
It's the end of the year, which not only means presents and feasts; it also means the constant sound of fireworks shooting into the sky late at night throughout Texas. Folks across the Lone Star State will undoubtedly celebrate the holidays, including the final moments of New Year's Eve, by setting off noisemakers and light shows. But what do you need to know if you're hoping to join in on the fun?
For one, you still have time to buy fireworks. This year, the Texas Department of Insurance permits businesses to sell fireworks starting Dec. 20 and through midnight Jan. 1. During other times of the year—for example the period up to both Cinco de Mayo and Juneteenth—some counties and cities may not permit fireworks sales.
Harris County, per the fire marshal, allows fireworks sales during the Independence Day and December holiday season periods. As for displays, Harris County allows small, home-based outdoor fireworks shows without a permit only in its unincorporated areas. Most of these areas are northwest and northeast of Houston.
"A county-issued permit is required before any use of flame effects or pyrotechnics, including Fireworks 1.4G, in unincorporated Harris County if any of the following conditions exist," reads a Harris County Fire Marshal order. The conditions include "indoor use, use before a proximate audience" and "use before an assembly of 50 people or more."
If you're hoping to set off some fireworks on New Year's Eve, the Harris County Fire Marshal recommends to "be considerate of your neighbors" and to be sure other folks are "out of range."
Fort Bend County states users must be beyond 600 feet from schools, churches, child care centers and hospitals in unincorporated areas.
Timothy Malcolm is Deputy Managing Editor of Texas Lifestyle at Chron, where he writes and edits stories from across a broad spectrum, including breaking Houston and Texas news, food, travel, culture, transportation, energy, sports and features.
Over his 20-year writing career he has served as food critic, launched magazines, worked as a grantwriter and even interviewed Taylor Swift. Timothy is also an accomplished travel author with two books published by Hachette Book Group—Baseball Road Trips and Drive & Hike Appalachian Trail.
He is happy to talk baseball, early 1980s R&B and pro wrestling when he’s not cooking for his wife and daughters.
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