Despite restrictions on big fireworks in Wisconsin, stores across the state are selling them freely to both residents and non-residents. According to the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, vendors can sell fireworks to anyone as long as they don't use them without a permit.
The key distinction is between buying and using fireworks. While it's legal for retailers like Phantom Fireworks to sell big fireworks in stores such as Roberts, Beloit, and Racine, residents must have a valid Wisconsin permit to light them off at home. Non-residents can possess fireworks in the state but are not allowed to use them without a permit.
Local ordinances can be stricter than state law, with some cities like Beloit limiting what types of fireworks residents can buy from local retailers. For example, Phantom's Beloit location only sells fountains, sparklers, and novelties to Wisconsin residents.
For those looking to light off fireworks at home, the list of no-permit-needed items is limited to sparklers up to 36 inches long, stationary cones and fountains that stay on the ground, toy snakes and smoke bombs, caps and noisemakers, confetti poppers with less than ¼ grain of explosive material, and novelty devices that spin or move on the ground.
To get a permit, residents must apply through their local municipality, which can issue permits for specific dates and locations. Enforcement is largely complaint-driven, with officers responding to calls from neighbors rather than proactively patrolling neighborhoods looking for violators.
While fines are relatively low in some areas, others like La Crosse have increased penalties and deployed drones to track down violators. The Bayfield County Sheriff's Office also reports an increase in fireworks complaints each year.