Can I Shoot Off Fireworks In My West Central Missouri Town?

The Warrensburg Police Department posted a hilarious message on Facebook educating people that fireworks are not permitted in the City of Warrensburg. And it's totally worth reading. It also got me thinking, what are the rules regarding fireworks in towns throughout West Central Missouri? Read on to find out.

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The part of the post that has me laughing is the following:

The list of prohibited fireworks includes (but not limited to): Black cats, roman candles, or screaming mimis. Additionally, you cannot light of any lady fingers, fuzz buttles, snicker bombs, church burners, finger blasters, gut busters, zippity do das, or crap flappers. Yes, we’re telling you that you cannot ignite any spleen splitters, whisker biscuits, honkey lighters, hoosker doos, hoosker don’ts, cherry bombs, nipsy daisers (with or without the scooter stick), or one single whistling kitty chaser (to quote a certain movie).

So yes, it's safe to say, lighting off fireworks in Warrensburg is a no-no.

Fireworks are also a no-no in Sedalia. Sec. 36-123 of the Sedalia Missouri Municipal Code prohibits the purchasing, selling, display, or discharge of any "firecrackers, cannon crackers, aerial bombs, torpedoes, rockets, Roman candles, flares, or fireworks of any kind or description or any pyrotechnic material within the city, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section." Subsection b allows for public fireworks displays like the Sedalia Parks & Recreation display on the 4th.

Knob Noster also is a party-pooper when it comes to citizens lighting off fireworks. According to a Facebook post from the City, fireworks are prohibited within the City limits and officers will seize all fireworks found at fireworks calls they respond to. Additionally, violators could be fined up to $500.

Clinton does allow fireworks to be shot off within the City limits between the hours of 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM CDT on July 3 and July 4. This is according to Sec. 22 of the Clinton Municipal Code.  Fireworks cannot however be shot off in the C-2 historic business district, with the exception of private residential property.  You also cannot shoot off fireworks within 600 feet of any church, hospital, or public school. Or within 100 feet of any place fireworks are stored, sold, or offered for sale. You also can't shoot fireworks off on public streets, sidewalks, parks, or public grounds. There's a lot of minutia in Clinton's Fireworks ordinance so you may want to refer back to that.

You can also shoot fireworks off on July 4 in Marshall between the hours of 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM CDT. This is according to a posting of the City's Fireworks Ordinance on their Facebook page. You can also shoot consumer fireworks off on December 31 from 10:00 AM CST until 12:30 AM CST on January 1. Consumer fireworks are defined as an explosive device designed to produce visible or audible effects by combustion and include aerial devices and ground devices categorized as fireworks. Marshall, like Clinton, prohibits fireworks within 600 feet of churches, hospitals, schools, and mental health facilities. Fireworks are also prohibited within 300 feet of any permanent storage of ignitable liquid, gases, gas pumps, and gas stations. Also no shooting off fireworks from cars and boats, or into cars or boats.

Finally, Lee's Summit allows the discharge of fireworks on July 2 and July 3 between 10:00 AM -11:00 PM, and on July 4 between 10 AM - Midnight CDT. Each household that's going to use fireworks must have a fireworks permit issued by the City before discharging fireworks within the City limits. Fireworks permits are free and can be obtained from any licensed fireworks vendor in the City, or at City Hall during regular business hours and are valid for the address listed on the permit. Essentially, the permit explains Lee's Summit's Fireworks rules and regulations and puts those in front of the user.

It's a far cry from the '70s and early '80s when fireworks seemed to be everywhere and the smell of recently lit fireworks permeated the air every 4th. And our parents thought letting us hold sparklers at six years old was a good idea, cause sparklers never hurt anyone like real fireworks.

Enjoy your Fourth of July. Be safe if you're using fireworks. And be careful with sparklers around little ones. They may not blow your hand off like a firecracker, but it still hurts if you get burned by one. Herer's a listing of professional fireworks shows in the area.