Wednesday
September 18, 2024 
A change in state law is prompting a few rule revisions in the Wrightstown ordinance that regulates the use of fireworks in the township.
Among them are additional days when fireworks would be allowed and an extension of permitted hours – from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The Wrightstown Board of Supervisors, an elected three-person entity that locally governs the municipality, last year adopted an ordinance that dictates how and when folks can set off fireworks within township borders.
The ordinance limited the unpermitted discharge of consumer fireworks by the public to select dates and times. However, subsequent tweaks in state-level law on fireworks means that Wrightstown must now allow fireworks on a few extra days, as well as for several hours longer each day.
As such, supervisors are taking steps to change the ordinance so it reads that members of the public may, without a permit, set off consumer fireworks on July 2 and 3 in addition to just July 4th, as the local law had previously read. If July 4th falls on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, folks can shoot off fireworks on the immediately preceding and following Friday and Saturday, per the proposed ordinance change dictated by state law.
Also, firework discharging/ignitions would be able to continue to 1 a.m. during the allowed period around the Fourth of July. Previously, Wrightstown’s ordinance cut off fireworks at 10 p.m.
“I think the legislature went a little overboard with allowing up to five days of fireworks for July 4th and allowing them to 1 a.m.,” said Supervisor Chairman Chester Pogonowski. “This is generally going to be very disruptive to our residents.”
Another forthcoming change to the ordinance would allow unpermitted consumer firework discharge to go from noon on New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31) to 1 a.m. the following day. Previously, Wrightstown’s ordinance mandated that fireworks stop at 10 p.m. on Dec. 31. The expanded time is being allowed due to the state law change, Pogonowski said.
Supervisors still must take a final vote to approve the changes – something that is likely to happen at a future public meeting in order for the township to be in conformance with state law.
Other elements of the Wrightstown fireworks rules are not changing, officials said. They state that consumer fireworks are only to be ignited or discharged during certain holidays, dates and times, unless a special permit is received.
Beyond New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July period, permissible holidays include Memorial Day Weekend, Labor Day Weekend, New Year’s Day, Lunar New Year and Diwali.
Consumer fireworks are ones that everyday folks over the age of 18 can legally purchase in Pennsylvania.
The ordinance also addresses display fireworks, which are large fireworks to be used solely by professional pyrotechnicians and designed primarily to produce visible or audible effects by combustion, deflagration, or detonation.
“It shall be unlawful,” the ordinance reads, “for any person, persons, firms or corporations, amusement parks, fair associations or other organizations or groups of individuals to utilize display fireworks within the limits of the township unless a permit therefor is first granted by the Board of Supervisors.”
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