Don’t get fined for breaking fireworks ban on Victoria Day in Brampton
Published May 17, 2023 at 2:29 pm
This upcoming long weekend marks the first Victoria Day since a blanket ban on fireworks in Brampton, and residents are being reminded not to celebrate with explosions or face hefty fines.
Brampton City Council made changes to the City’s fireworks bylaw in November banning personal fireworks in the city and increasing fines for rule breakers.
Under the old rules, residents were allowed to set off personal fireworks without a permit on Victoria Day as well as Diwali, Canada Day and New Year’s Eve.
But a record number of complaints during Diwali celebrations last year led council to clamp down on personal pyrotechnics, meaning there are no fireworks allowed on Victoria Day (May 22) in Brampton.
Fines have also been increased to a minimum of $500 for discharging fireworks, a $1,000 penalty for selling them or failing to comply with an order, and a maximum fine of up to $100,000.
Only the film industry and the City are allowed to apply for permits to use fireworks in Brampton under the new bylaw.
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The City had previously banned “long-range” fireworks in 2016, but the City’s staff said that ban saw “no decrease” in fireworks usage in Brampton.
Brampton bylaw officers issued thousands of dollars in tickets on New Year’s Eve under the City’s new fireworks ban.
In 2022 there were approximately $38,500 in fireworks fines issued in the city and Brampton Fire and Emergency Services also responded to 20 fires related to fireworks that cost taxpayers approximately $20,000.
Diwali celebrations in October led to a record number of fireworks complaints with users on social media saying fireworks could be heard going off as late as 5:00 a.m. in some parts of Brampton, well after the City’s 11:00 p.m. bylaw.
For more information on Brampton’s fireworks ban and fines visit www.Brampton.ca.
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