Can I buy and set off fireworks?
Yes, with conditions — you must be over 18, keep to permitted hours, and not use them in public places. The basis is the Fireworks Act 2003 and Fireworks Regulations 2004. You must be 18+ to buy adult (category F2/F3) fireworks. It's an offence to set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am, with extensions to midnight on 5 November (Bonfire Night) and 1am for New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year. You must not set off or throw fireworks (including sparklers) in the street or any public place, and only licensed sellers may supply them outside the seasonal windows. Professional (F4) fireworks are restricted to trained display operators. Scotland is stricter (6pm–11pm, with a licence being phased in). In short: yes, but mind the hours and places.
📋 The rules
- Must be 18+ to buy adult fireworks
- Offence to set off 11pm–7am
- Midnight cut-off on 5 Nov; 1am NYE/Diwali/Chinese NY
- Never set off/throw fireworks in the street or public place
- Professional (F4) fireworks: licensed operators only
🔓 Exceptions
- Under-18s may not possess adult fireworks in public
- Scotland: tighter hours (6pm–11pm) and a firework licence phasing in
- Firework control zones (Scotland) can ban use entirely
⚠️ Penalties & fines
A minor breach can mean a £90 on-the-spot fine (fixed penalty notice). Illegal sale or use can lead to an unlimited fine (sometimes framed as up to £5,000) and/or up to 6 months' imprisonment. Throwing fireworks in a public place and supplying to under-18s are specific offences. Beware a myth: "I can let off fireworks any time on Bonfire Night" is false — even on 5 November the cut-off is midnight, not all night. (Scotland has stricter hours and a licensing scheme; control zones can ban fireworks entirely.) To stay legal: buy from a licensed seller if you're 18+, set them off on private land within the permitted hours, and keep them out of the street.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
What time can I set off fireworks?
It's an offence to set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am. There are extensions on certain dates: until midnight on 5 November, Bonfire Night, and until 1am for New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year. Outside these windows, using fireworks is against the law, and in Scotland the permitted hours are tighter.
How old do I have to be to buy fireworks?
You must be at least 18 to buy adult fireworks, which are categories F2 and F3, and only licensed retailers may sell fireworks outside the standard seasonal periods. It's also an offence for anyone under 18 to possess adult fireworks in a public place. Sparklers, too, shouldn't be given to very young children.
Can I set off fireworks in the street?
No. It's an offence to set off or throw fireworks, including sparklers, in the street or any other public place. Fireworks should only be set off on private land, such as your own garden, with the landowner's permission, and within the permitted hours. Using them in public can lead to a fine.
Can I let off fireworks all night on Bonfire Night?
No, that's a myth. Even on 5 November, the latest you can legally set off fireworks is midnight, not throughout the night. On other permitted dates, like New Year's Eve, the cut-off is 1am. Outside these specific extensions, the normal 11pm cut-off applies, and breaching it is an offence.
What's the penalty for breaking firework laws?
A minor breach, such as setting fireworks off after the permitted hours, can result in an on-the-spot fine of £90. More serious offences, including illegal sale or use, can lead to an unlimited fine and up to six months in prison. Scotland has additional restrictions, including tighter hours and a licensing scheme.
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