If you want to celebrate the 4th of July with oohs and ahhs in Minnesota, you may be out of luck. Fireworks are illegal in Minnesota.
At least the funny, dramatic, aerial and explosive types are. In 2002, Minnesota law was changed to allow the sale of non-explosive and non-aerial fireworks, which means things like sparklers and party poppers. Snakes, snappers, and several types of smaller land types that won’t be released or exploited are legal in Minnesota. But to wear even these, you’ll need to be 18 with a photo ID to buy them. You can’t even use this type of fireworks in a public place, like on a road or in a park.
Anything that is designed to explode or fly is illegal in Minnesota.
What fireworks are legal in Minnesota?
These are some of the fireworks that are legal in Minnesota. These are legal to buy, own and leave, as long as you do so on private property and they are of legal age.
- Flares
- Sparkling Cones (Conical Fountains) and Tubes
- Snapper
- Drop pops
- Snakes
- Illuminating torches
- Smoke devices
- Noise tricks
- Paper streamers
- Land spinners
- Strobes and flashes
- Snapper with no more than 25 hundredths of explosive mix kernels each
- Party poppers (string poppers)
What fireworks are illegal in Minnesota?
In case you are unsure, the following fireworks are prohibited in the state of Minnesota. You cannot buy, own or light these fireworks, regardless of your age or location, as long as it is within state limits.
- Firecrackers
- Bottle rockets
- Missiles
- Roman candles
- Cat tongue
- Sky rockets
- Missile rockets
- Helicopters
- Aerial spinners
- Planes or UFOs
- Mines or shells
- Hunters
- Parachute
- Theatrical pyrotechnics
- Mortars and projectiles
Where to see fireworks in Minnesota
You may not be able to launch them yourself, but the pros can still do it. Some impressive fireworks can still be seen in the Minnesota sky.
Wondering where you can go to see fireworks? Here are some places to see fireworks in and around Minneapolis and St. Paul.
- Fireworks and celebrations in all Twin Cities on the Fourth of July.
- The Minnesota State Fair has fireworks every night.
- New Year’s Eve used to be marked with fireworks in downtown Minneapolis, but no more. Instead, this is where you can most see fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
Where can you go to launch fireworks?
Determined to launch some fireworks? It’s no secret that fireworks – the kind that launch and explode – are legal in Wisconsin, next door, and there are plenty of places to buy fireworks in Hudson and other cities across the state line.
Please note, if you are planning a fireworks shopping trip to Wisconsin, that while it may be legal to buy fireworks in Wisconsin, it is illegal to bring them back to Minnesota, and it is also illegal to set them off here. The possession, sale, and use of fireworks is prohibited in Minnesota. Even if you bought the fireworks legally in Wisconsin.
