As July 4th approaches, a reminder that fireworks use is banned year-round in southwest Snohomish County. This includes:
- Unincorporated communities in southwest Snohomish County
- City of Brier
- City of Edmonds
- City of Lynnwood
- City of Mountlake Terrace
- Town of Woodway.
Professional public fireworks shows are allowed in compliance with local regulations, requirements, and the proper permit. The closest local fireworks show will be the 3rd of July event over Lake Ballinger, sponsored by the City of Mountlake Terrace. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a DJ and food trucks. Fireworks will occur as darkness falls at approximately 10 p.m.
There is no fireworks show in Edmonds this year due to construction at Civic Field.
For complaints related to noise or illegal fireworks use with no threat to life or property, call the Snohomish County 911 non-emergency number at 425-407-3999.
When calling the non-emergency line, expect to be placed in a queue until a 911 dispatcher is available to answer your call. Dispatchers handle both 911 and non-emergency calls.
If you do choose to set off fireworks illegally in these areas, it could hit your pocketbook. In the City of Edmonds, the fine is $500 for a first-time offense. Those getting caught a second time — or more — within five years can be charged with a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail.
The Edmonds Police Department said it plans to have an increased presence in the city starting July 1 to deter the use of consumer fireworks and enforce the ban.
In the City of Lynnwood, setting off fireworks illegally is a misdemeanor that could result in a potential fine of up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail, although the city said it focuses primarily on education and voluntary compliance.
Discharging fireworks is also a misdemeanor in the City of Mountlake Terrace, but the city takes a case-by-case approach to enforcement in all misdemeanor cases.
It’s confusing because there are still firework stands in the Brier/Lynnwood area. Why are legal firework stands allowed in this same are if the fireworks themselves cannot be set off legally?
Just wondering. Not trying to pass judgement or commentary on the limitation in the first place.
Here’s what South County Fire says about that: Cities in our service area ban the sale AND the use of fireworks.
It’s a different story in the unincorporated areas of southwest Snohomish County where a county ordinance bans fireworks use (19-037), but still allows sales June 28-July 5 of each year.
Banning fireworks sales in any unincorporated area in Snohomish County would require action by the Snohomish County Council.
I love the ban! Unfortunatrly, in unincorporated Snohomosh county, just over the border from Lynnwood, last year there were lots of neigherhoods that set them off anyway. Not as much as before the ban, but still lots of action. Will there will be more enforcement this year?
I don’t know why they bother with the ban if they’re not going to enforce it! We are a mile or 2 east of Silver lake in Snohomish and our neighborhood sounds like a war zone! I’ve tried calling the non emergency number in the past but only get a busy signal