What You Need to Know About Fireworks in Johnson County

Families across Johnson County will celebrate the Fourth of July weekend with picnics, gatherings of family members and friends, outings to lake beaches and parks, neighborhood barbecues, and of course fireworks.

In the State of Kansas, consumer (Class C) fireworks are legal with the exception of bottle rockets – which are banned throughout the state. The state also authorizes local jurisdictions to enact and enforce their own fireworks ordinances. In Johnson County, the use, sale, and

possession of fireworks are illegal in almost all cities and in rural areas of Johnson

County. Yet, there are three exceptions. The only cities permitting the use of fireworks

within their city limits are De Soto, Edgerton, and Spring Hill.

Edgerton permits fireworks only between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. on July 2, and from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on July 3 and July 4. The city does not allow the selling of fireworks. Both the sale and use of fireworks are allowed in Spring Hill and De Soto. De Soto restricts fireworks to three days—from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 2 and 3, and from 10 a.m. to midnight July 4. Sales end July 4. Spring Hill limits fireworks from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 3-5. Sales end July 5.

The communities do not allow the use of bottle rockets in support of the statewide ban. Elsewhere in Johnson County, the general use of fireworks fizzles out with only a few

exceptions. Fireworks in cities of Fairway, Gardner, Lake Quivira, Leawood, Merriam,

Mission, Mission Hills, Mission Woods, Olathe, Overland Park, Prairie Village, Roeland

Park, Westwood, and Westwood Hills are not allowed. Lenexa bans all aerial and exploding fireworks, but allows some fireworks, such as snakes, smoke bombs, sparklers, and caps.

Shawnee, too, allows only snakes and caps, but no sparklers.

According to Johnson County regulations, fireworks, including sparklers, are illegal without

a permit in all unincorporated areas of the county. Deputies of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office will be patrolling all unincorporated areas of the county over the holiday period and persons caught using or selling fireworks will be subject to fines from $25 up to $100.

Don't forget, the Johnson County Radio Network will be hosting Olathe Fire Captain Mike Hall on Friday, July 2nd to discuss in more details these rules and general guidelines about firework safety.