The Proposed Regulatory Framework

Independence Day and New Year’s Eve are deep-rooted American holidays centered around community, family, and tradition. However, current blanket prohibitions in unincorporated King County and the City of Burien have inadvertently eliminated safe, legal avenues for responsible family celebrations. By criminalizing all consumer options, the current policy struggles to distinguish between harmless traditions and genuinely hazardous activity, driving the market underground and stretching enforcement resources thin. 

We believe that total prohibition has not solved safety concerns; instead, it has driven activities completely underground, removed community accountability, and penalized law-abiding households.

"Our goal is not a chaotic free-for-all. We are raising awareness to show local officials that a clear, heavily regulated, and strictly timed compromise is safer and more effective than a total ban."

We petition the King County Council and the Burien City Council to replace their total fireworks prohibitions in unincorporated areas of King County and the City of Burien with a tiered, safety-first ordinance based on device type:

Tier 1: Ground-Based Consumer Fireworks (Extended Window)

Devices: Fireworks known as fountains, wheels, ground spinners, and sparklers.

Rationale: These devices pose a drastically lower fire risk to neighboring properties and generate minimal noise disruption.

Tier 2: Aerial Consumer Fireworks (Strictly Restricted Window)

Devices: Washington State-approved aerial multi-tube cakes, reloadable shells, and those permitted in RCW 70.77.136.

Rationale: To minimize late-night noise disturbances for neighbors, pets, and veterans, and to ensure maximum visibility for safety monitoring.

Tier 3: Unapproved and Dangerous Devices (Absolute Prohibition)

Devices: Firecrackers, bottle rockets, missile-type rockets, M-80s, cherry bombs, altered consumer fireworks, and any devices not expressly approved under RCW 70.77.136 and those mentioned in RCW 70.77.401.

Rationale: To clearly distinguish between safe, regulated consumer products and hazardous explosives. Maintaining a strict ban and increasing enforcement on these specific items protects the community from high-velocity unpredictable projectiles, severe injury risks, and extreme noise disruptions, while allowing responsible residents to enjoy standard consumer options.

Additional Guidelines

Fines: Fines for the usage of Tier 3 Fireworks should range from $2,500 for the first offense, $5,000 for the second offense, and $10,000 for the third offense and those after.

(Revenue generated from Tier 3 violation fines can be directly allocated to fund increased law enforcement and safety patrols during these specific holiday windows, ensuring robust enforcement without straining the existing city or county budgets.)

Holiday Windows: Consumer Fireworks should be allowed during these highly specific holiday windows:

July 4th (Independence Day): 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM (Tier 1); 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM (Tier 2 Aerials)

December 31st (New Year’s Eve): 10:00 PM – 1:30 AM (Tier 1 & Tier 2)

Automatic Environmental Safety Triggers: If the local Fire Marshal implements a Stage 1 or Stage 2 Burn Ban due to summer heat or drought conditions, the July windows are automatically canceled for that year to guarantee protection against fire risks.

State-Law Boundaries & Personal Accountability: This framework strictly applies only to legal, state-retail-approved consumer items. Dangerous, unapproved, or altered contraband devices remain entirely illegal. Celebrating residents accept full responsibility for completing immediate property clean-up.

Implementing this framework will replace an unworkable total ban with a realistic, manageable system that honors local traditions while heavily regulating them. By providing a legal path for responsible residents, this compromise naturally reduces the underground market, allows law enforcement to focus strictly on hazardous contraband, and gives the community clear, predictable windows of celebration. It balances personal freedom with public safety, ensuring that our local celebrations are orderly, cooperative, and safe for everyone.