Newport Passes Permenant Ban On Fireworks

The Newport City Council has voted to ban consumer fireworks inside city limits, approving a year-round prohibition on the use, sale, and possession of fireworks in a 6–1 vote after a lengthy and at times emotional discussion. The new law, Ordinance 2026-02, amends the Newport Municipal Code to outlaw consumer fireworks within city limits, including those that are currently legal under Oregon state law. The only exceptions will be permitted public displays, such as the city’s official Fourth of July show, which will continue. Also allowed will be traditional sparklers, snakes, caps, model rockets, and trick noisemakers.

City Attorney Tiffany Johnson presented the ordinance and explained that Newport already had a process allowing the council to enact temporary fireworks bans by resolution during periods of high fire danger. The difference now is that this is a permanent, year-round ban, instead of a temporary, weather-driven restriction. She noted that while the state regulates fireworks, cities have the authority to adopt stricter local rules, and the proposed ordinance was drafted to be consistent with similar bans already in place in Lincoln County, Yachats, Waldport and other nearby jurisdictions.

Enforcement was a major concern throughout the discussion. Newport Police Chief Malloy told the council that his department will continue to respond to fireworks complaints, but only within the limits of existing staffing and higher-priority calls. He described the city’s approach as triage-based: officers will prioritize cases where there is an immediate life safety hazard, such as fireworks being launched at homes or into dry, dangerous areas, over lower-level violations. Malloy also explained that state law already makes certain types of fireworks illegal as a crime, while local violations under the new city ban would be handled as lower-level offenses. He said the department will do what it can, but made it clear that officers cannot respond to every single fireworks complaint, especially on peak nights like the Fourth of July, when dispatch regularly consolidates multiple calls into a single incident record.

Public safety, health and environmental concerns dominated the council’s comments. Council cited national figures indicating that fireworks account for roughly 2 to 2.5 percent of all fires annually, translating to an estimated 30,000 or more fires nationwide in a single year. They also pointed out that in a dry year, with a light winter and the potential for a severe fire season by July, relying on last-minute temporary bans is both risky and unfair to vendors and residents who plan ahead. Councilors also raised the impact on people with asthma and other respiratory issues, who often feel forced to stay indoors with windows shut during the week of the Fourth of July because of smoke. Others mentioned the effect of loud explosions on veterans and others dealing with PTSD, as well as the stress on pets and wildlife.

Environmental impacts, especially along the beach, were a recurring theme. Councilors described years of post-holiday beach cleanups where they found piles of discarded cardboard, plastic and spent fireworks littering the sand and washing into the ocean. Mayor Kaplan, who has helped lead those cleanups said he is “sick of picking up other people’s fireworks” and does not want that debris ending up in fish and, eventually, in the human food chain.

At the same time, multiple councilors acknowledged that many residents use fireworks responsibly, with buckets of water and a focus on safety. The council stressed that the ban is not a judgment on responsible users, but a response to the fact that irresponsible behavior can have consequences far beyond the individuals involved, from fires to injuries and environmental damage. The council heard from several during public comment urging the council not to ban fireworks stating it takes away from family traditions and not all people who use fireworks are irrisponsible. They also received 8 letters from citizens with 6 of those opoposing a ban on fireworks.

The ordinance does not end fireworks in Newport altogether. The city’s official Fourth of July fireworks display will continue. Fire Chief Murphy confirmed that Newport already has a contract in place for this year’s show, with a budget of about $55,000, similar in size and scope to last year. Because many display fireworks are purchased months in advance, it is unclear how much the show could be altered at this point without revisiting the contract, though that could be discussed with the vendor.

Murphy also clarified that not every small item commonly associated with fireworks will be covered by the ban. Under Oregon law, certain novelties such as sparklers, snap pops, party poppers and small “snakes” are not legally defined as fireworks, and therefore would not be regulated under the new city ordinance. Those items would remain legal, unless state law changes. Looking ahead, city staff and councilors agreed that clear communication with the public will be crucial. The city plans to conduct outreach so residents know what is now illegal, what remains allowed under state law, and how the enforcement priorities will work in practice. There was talk of a prominent notice on the city’s website, along with a frequently asked questions page listing legal and illegal items and directing people to the State Fire Marshal’s permit process for displays.

After discussion, a motion was made to adopt Ordinance 2026-02 by title only, amending section 8.20.020 of the Newport Municipal Code to ban fireworks. The motion passed on a 6–1 roll call vote. With this decision, Newport joins a growing list of coastal jurisdictions that are shifting away from backyard fireworks and toward city-sponsored, professionally managed shows. The permanent ban is now on the books, and how it will play out on the ground this Fourth of July — and beyond — will be closely watched by residents on all sides of the debate.