I had a neighbor ask me if I knew how long after the Fourth he could shoot off fireworks, and I honestly didn't know. Our family buys a small stash each year, lights them off on the 4th, and then we're done.

I do know Minnesota has some pretty strict laws on which kind of fireworks are allowed to be used, but I have never heard of a hard date where people had to stop. So, I decided to dig into the official Minnesota State Statutes to find out what the law actually says and I stumbled onto a surprising twist.

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Can You Light Fireworks After The 4th of July in MInnesota?

Believe it or not, there is no cutoff date to stop lighting fireworks in Minnesota. Under state law (specifically Minn. Stat. § 624.20), you can legally buy, possess, and light off consumer fireworks 365 days a year.

But before you go burning through the rest of your leftover stash on a random Tuesday night, there are two massive catches you absolutely need to know: First, anything that leaves the ground or explodes like firecrackers, bottle rockets, mortars, and roman candles is completely illegal all year round in Minnesota.

Can You Get in Trouble For Lighting Fireworks After The 4th of July in Minnesota?

Law enforcement usually gives people a bit of a pass on the 4th when it comes to the bigger stuff because they are simply too busy dealing with other calls. But they are  MUCH more likely to crack down and issue a ticket if you are still waking up the neighborhood with illegal explosives days after the 4th.

Discarded fireworks and debris scattered on the ground
Photo by Quan Jing on Unsplash
Discarded fireworks and debris scattered on the ground

The only items the public can legally use are non-explosive, ground-based novelties (think sparklers, fountains, cones, and snakes). And from what I understand looking at the statutes, you have a green light from the state to shoot these specific items off year-round.

The state might not care when you light your cracklin' fountains, but your local city council definitely does.

State law gives local cities the power to set their own restrictions, and they use noise ordinances, nightly curfews, and public property bans to shut things down once the holiday wraps up.

Every town handles this a little differently so check your local city ordinances before you spark anything up, but it seems like you can light off legal fireworks in Minnesota year round as long as you're on private property and not violating a sound curfew.

The $1,000 Backyard Mistake: 11 Things You Are Legally Banned From Burning in Minnesota

Think you can burn anything in your backyard? Think again. Under Minnesota Statute § 88.171, the state has a strict rules on burning.

If you get caught throwing the wrong thing into your fire pit, you could be charged with a misdemeanor and be penalized with up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. 

Gallery Credit: Troy Dunken

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