More than $45K in fireworks fines, nearly 1,500 complaints during Diwali in Brampton

There were over $45,000 in fines and some 1,500 complaints related to fireworks or excessive noise during the days-long Diwali celebrations in Brampton this year.

Brampton has banned nearly all types of personal-use fireworks following particularly explosive Diwali celebrations in 2022, where over 1,000 calls were made to 311 related to fireworks on Diwali.

In comparison, the city had 492 fireworks complaints during all of 2018.

Penalties for discharging personal fireworks anywhere in the city start at $500. Selling fireworks comes with a $1,000 fine, with penalties under the bylaw reaching up to $100,000.

Diwali fell on Monday this year, and the number of complaints “related to fireworks and excessive noise” was approximately 1,490 – up from 161 complaints on Diwali in 2024.

RELATED: Fireworks complaints drop 84% on Diwali after ban introduced in Brampton

But the city says the tally of 2025 fireworks calls spanned from Oct. 17 to Oct. 22, unlike previous years, where the city has provided a count of complaints received on the day of Diwali.

Some 3,389 service requests were made to 311 between those dates, with approximately 44 per cent of calls linked to fireworks or noise.

Those complaints led to $45,200 in fines, and the city says “additional investigations into these reports are still underway, which may result in penalties under the fireworks by-law.”

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown told reporters on Thursday that bylaw officers “were out in full force” to manage “the challenging time, that is Diwali.”

“Those that do not follow the city bylaws, there (are) consequences for them,” Brown said.

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

In 2022, the sheer number of fireworks set off on Diwali contributed to an alert about “deteriorating air quality” from Environment Canada. The agency later removed reference to Diwali after 60 formal complaints were filed.

To report fireworks being set off in Brampton, you can call 311 or visit www.311brampton.ca.