As New Year’s Eve 2025 approaches, the skies above Ohio and Florida are set to light up with the familiar crackle and burst of fireworks. For many, it’s a cherished tradition—one that marks both the end of an old year and the hope of a new one. But before residents rush to their local fireworks stand or reach for that lighter, there are some crucial legal details and safety precautions to consider. Both states have recently updated their laws, and the rules can be a little more complicated than you might think.
According to The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio’s fireworks laws underwent a major overhaul in 2022. Thanks to House Bill 172, signed by Governor Mike DeWine in November 2021, Ohioans are now permitted to set off fireworks on more than 20 days each year—including New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The law’s intent is clear: give residents the freedom to celebrate on major holidays such as July 4th, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Juneteenth, Diwali, and of course, at the turn of the year. But there’s a catch—individual communities retain the right to ban or restrict fireworks entirely.
That means, depending on where you live in Ohio, the rules may be very different. Several central Ohio cities, including Bexley, Canal Winchester, Columbus, Dublin, Gahanna, Grove City, Groveport, Hilliard, Pickerington, Worthington, Westerville, and Upper Arlington, have all chosen to prohibit the detonation of fireworks, despite the state law. Reynoldsburg, on the other hand, restricts fireworks to just two hours on July 4th, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Meanwhile, communities like New Albany, Powell, Obetz, Whitehall, and many towns in Licking County (such as Newark, Heath, Granville, Johnstown, and Pataskala) allow residents to set off fireworks, provided they follow the state’s schedule.
So, when exactly can Ohioans legally light up the night? Unless local ordinances say otherwise, fireworks can be set off from 4 p.m. on December 31, 2025, until 1 a.m. on January 1, 2026. On New Year’s Day itself, the window reopens from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. It’s a generous timeframe, but one that’s still subject to local restrictions—so it’s wise to double-check with your city or township before you buy that big box of Roman candles.
Florida’s approach is both similar and distinct. As reported by The Palm Beach Post, fireworks are generally banned in the Sunshine State for most of the year. However, since 2020, Florida law has carved out three “fireworks holidays”: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and Independence Day (July 4th). On these days, Floridians can legally set off the kinds of fireworks typically found at roadside stands and specialty stores—think bottle rockets, aerial shells, and fountains—without having to claim they’re scaring birds from agricultural fields (a quirky loophole that’s long been part of Florida’s legal landscape).
Yet, even with these allowances, local governments and homeowners associations can impose their own restrictions. The state law doesn’t override existing city ordinances or HOA covenants. If fireworks weren’t allowed in your neighborhood before 2021, they’re still not allowed now. And for those living in areas under burn bans—a reality for more than a dozen Florida counties through at least January 1, 2026, due to drought and wildfire risk—fireworks are strictly off-limits, no matter what the calendar says.
Florida law also spells out exactly what counts as a firework: any combustible or explosive substance designed to produce a visible or audible effect. There are exceptions, of course—sparklers, cap guns, smoke bombs, party poppers, and snappers remain legal year-round. To buy the big stuff, you have to be at least 18 years old. And while the law doesn’t specify an exact cutoff time on New Year’s, most communities have noise ordinances that kick in well before midnight. The safe bet? Finish your display before the neighbors (or the local police) get annoyed.
But what about those leftover fireworks on January 2? Unless you’re a farmer with birds to scare or a fish hatchery to protect, you’ll have to save them for the next holiday. Setting off fireworks outside the approved dates can lead to the seizure of your stash and possible citations under local ordinances—though, as The Palm Beach Post notes, actual arrests are rare. Still, it’s not worth the risk or the ire of your neighborhood association.
One thing both states agree on: safety is paramount. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that in 2025, more than 9,700 people nationwide were treated in emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries, with eight deaths. Burns accounted for 42% of injuries, and hands, fingers, heads, faces, and ears were the most commonly affected areas. The Florida Department of Financial Services and safety experts urge everyone to follow some basic guidelines: never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks (even sparklers, which can burn at a blistering 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit), keep a bucket of water or hose nearby, light one device at a time, and never try to relight a dud. And, of course, never use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
Pet owners, too, should take precautions. Both states recommend keeping pets indoors during fireworks celebrations. The sudden noise and bright flashes can be terrifying for animals, and for some people—including veterans and first responders with PTSD—the celebrations can trigger distressing symptoms. It’s a good reminder that what’s fun for some can be deeply unsettling for others.
There’s another tradition that’s best left in the past: firing guns into the air to celebrate. In Ohio, this practice is not only illegal, it’s also lethally dangerous. As The Columbus Dispatch reports, stray bullets have caused tragic deaths on New Year’s Day, including the 2005 killing of 16-year-old Angela Hughes in her South Side home and the death of a Cleveland woman just after midnight in 2020. In one harrowing incident, a Grove City police officer witnessed a man fire off 15 shots from a handgun around 12:10 a.m. on January 1, 2020. Studies have shown that bullets falling from the sky can reach speeds of 300 feet per second—fast enough to penetrate a human skull. Each year, police and public health officials issue warnings, but calls about celebratory gunfire still pour in.
So, as midnight approaches and the urge to celebrate grows, Ohioans and Floridians alike would do well to remember the rules, respect their neighbors, and put safety first. Fireworks can be a dazzling way to ring in the new year, but only when used responsibly—and legally. Here’s to a bright, safe, and law-abiding start to 2026.