As fireworks stands open for summer business, the Cedar Park Fire Department is reminding residents that most fireworks are illegal in and around Cedar Park.
“Fireworks cause thousands of injures and many fires each year” says Fire Chief James Mallinger. T
Chief Mallinger says that because Cedar Park has many fire service areas which are not part of the city per se, it is important for area residents to understand the law, especially as it pertains to areas outside of city limits.
“Even though State law allows for the sale of fireworks immediately adjacent to the City limits, that same State law makes them illegal to use in the City limits,” Chief Mallinger says.
Mallinger adds that Cedar Park’s ordinance also makes fireworks illegal just outside of the City – within 5,000 feet of City limits – without a special permit. The Cedar Park Fire Department responds to several areas of Travis and Williamson Counties, which are not in the city limits but are part of the City’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). Fireworks are illegal in those ETJ areas served by the Cedar Park Fire Department. The City of Cedar Park has a zero tolerance policy regarding fireworks. That means police must issue citations to any violators. The punishment for possessing fireworks can be up to 180 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,000 plus court costs. Police and firefighters will be patrolling areas for illegal fireworks, both inside and outside of the city limits during the July Fourth holiday.
To see the interactive map of where fireworks are allowed in Williamson County visit https://gis.wilco.org/maps/?viewer=countymap . This link will be available through July 5.
