Fireworks ban could cost you $100,000 this Victoria Day long weekend in Brampton

Setting off pyrotechnics could come with fines up to $100,000 this Victoria Day long weekend as the city is in its second year of a Brampton-wide fireworks ban.

Nearly all types of personal fireworks were banned in Brampton following particularly explosive Diwali celebrations in 2022 that saw more than 1,000 complaints filed to city hall.

Victoria Day used to be one of only four dates every year where Brampton residents were allowed to set off fireworks without a permit, but now setting off any kind of explosive display could come with a $100,000 fine.

The base fine for setting off fireworks in Brampton is $500, climbing up to $1,000 for anyone selling fireworks. Property owners who allow fireworks to be set off on their property can also be fined.

In some cases, the city says it can issue up to $100,000 in penalties with a required court appearance.

Sparklers – hand-held fireworks that burn slowly and give off bright sparks – are the only personal fireworks exempt from the ban, a change introduced ahead of Diwali last year at the request of residents.

The number of fireworks complaints has dropped since the introduction of the ban while ticketing and enforcement have gone up, with the city saying reports on both New Year’s Eve and Diwali dropped once tougher penalties were introduced.

While Brampton’s blanket ban is still in place, Mississauga still allows personal fireworks displays on Victoria Day.

Fireworks can be set off in Mississauga on private property without a permit on May 20 from sundown to 11 p.m. Permits must be obtained for anyone looking to set off fireworks on Saturday or Sunday.

The City of Brampton introduced the ban after the number of calls related to fireworks jumped from 492 in 2019 to nearly 1,500 in 2022.