N. Oregon Coast's Seaside Looks at Stiffer Penalties for Illegal Fireworks

Published 03/22/26 at 7:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Seaside, Oregon) – At first glance, some think it looks like Seaside may go the way of other Oregon coast towns and shift away from fireworks. No, instead the town with the most famous of Fourth of July fireworks scenes in Oregon is simply trying to cut down on the use of personal fireworks that pose dangers.

The big stuff in the sky that's shot off by professionals stays, says Seaside City Council.

Town leaders are considering a draft ordinance that would change how illegal fireworks are enforced in the city. The proposal would not ban fireworks beyond what state law already prohibits, but it would create a new civil penalty structure intended to improve compliance and reduce ongoing impacts to the community.

“The City Council has not yet taken action on this proposal, and it may be revised before any final decision is made. Public input is an important part of this process,” the City of Seaside said in a press release.

The ordinance under consideration would maintain existing criminal laws related to fireworks, add a civil enforcement option for illegal fireworks, establish structured penalties for violations, and provide additional tools to improve compliance. It would not change which fireworks are legal or illegal under Oregon law.

City officials say the change is being considered because complaints about illegal fireworks continue, especially around the Fourth of July. The current system relies on criminal penalties, which have not consistently resulted in compliance or deterrence. The proposed ordinance is intended to create a more effective and consistent enforcement approach.

Above: You can see a variety of illegal fireworks going off beneath Seaside's official display

Fireworks are not being banned in Seaside. The proposal applies only to fireworks already prohibited under Oregon law.

Some Oregon coast towns have outright banned fireworks of all kinds – including the sale of fireworks within town. That includes Lincoln City, Newport and Yachats. Lincoln City even moved from a fireworks display to a drone show for the Fourth of July.

If Seaside adopts this, the ordinance would establish three levels of civil penalties:
- $1,000 for a first violation
- $3,000 for a repeat violation or a violation after a warning
- $5,000 for conduct that creates substantial risk

Penalties could increase during declared fire season or fire weather warnings. The maximum penalty would be $5,000.

The proposals make for the possibilities of even higher fines based on how many times you shot one of these off. Each discharge would be treated as a separate violation, but violations occurring as part of the same incident would be treated as a single event for determining the penalty level. Penalties would be based on the nature and severity of the conduct, not the number of fireworks.

Higher penalties would apply when conduct creates increased risk, such as:
- use near people or crowds
- use near structures or vegetation
- use during fire season or fire weather conditions

Illegal fireworks are those already prohibited under Oregon law, including certain explosive or aerial devices. The proposal does not change state definitions.

City officials say relying solely on criminal enforcement has been time-consuming and inconsistent. A civil option would allow faster processing, a lower burden of proof, and more consistent application of penalties. Both civil and criminal enforcement would remain available.

The city maintained the proposal is not intended to generate revenue. While penalties could result in revenue, the stated purpose is deterrence and reducing community impacts.

You could charged more money if to cover the cost of emergency services such as fire engines. If adopted, enforcement could include issuance of citations, confiscation of illegal fireworks, and recovery of emergency response costs when applicable. The goal is to provide clearer and more effective enforcement tools.

The city is attempting to address impacts such as noise, disruption, effects on pets and veterans, sleep disturbance, and fire risk during dry conditions.

Next steps for the City Council include conducting a first reading of the ordinance, considering revisions, and deciding whether to adopt it. Residents will be able to provide input during the process.

You can see more at this link.

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