Fireworks Permanently Banned in Redmond

Fireworks are officially banned in Redmond, as the City Council approved a permanent prohibition on fireworks at its Tuesday, Aug. 25 meeting, voting 6-1 in favor of ordinance 2026-11. 

The Council conducted the first reading of the ordinance, which prohibits the sale, use or possession of fireworks in the city, on Aug. 11. However, because the Council vote wasn’t unanimous following the first reading, the matter was held over for a second reading and final vote. Councilor Jay Patrick cast the dissenting vote at both readings of the ordinance, which restricts all fireworks except novelty items such as sparklers, smoke bombs, snakes and party poppers. Illegal fireworks include those that go into the air, explode or behave in an unpredictable manner. The cities of Bend and Sisters have similar bans in place.

Fireworks are now permanently banned in Redmond Credit: Wikimedia

This isn’t the first time the Council has restricted fireworks, although previous bans were temporary. In July 2025, the Council enacted an emergency fireworks ban due to weather and wildfire conditions, while in November 2025, the Council banned fireworks except on July 4 of this year and upped the fine to $1,500 for each offense. Because the November 2025 ban is still in effect, fireworks are restricted, even though the new ordinance doesn’t officially take effect for 30 days, per city code.

According to a report by Redmond City Attorney Keith Leitch, during the period of July 3-5 this year, the Redmond Police Department had 298 calls for service, 27 of which were associated with fireworks. There were 11 fires during that same period, with three homes destroyed and more than 25 acres burned. Additionally, a fire broke out during Redmond’s fireworks show on July 4 at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds. Police rushed to extinguish the flames, as Redmond firefighters had been redirected to the Coyner Fire, which broke out that day northwest of Redmond. 

During that same period, according to Councilor John Wilson, the city of Bend reported two fireworks-related fires, including one at the site of its annual fireworks show on Pilot Butte, while the town of Sisters had none. 

Per Redmond city code, each offense for using illegal fireworks can result in a $1,500 fine “to the actual person possessing or using fireworks. The property owner, renter, or other person in charge of property where fireworks are used or possessed is responsible if they should have reasonably known fireworks were in use or possessed on the property.” Additionally, “The City may confiscate, destroy, remove, or have removed at the owner’s expense all fireworks in violation of this section, when necessary for the preservation of public safety.”

Heather Cassaro, Redmond’s director of communications, said that there were warnings issued since the November 2025 emergency ban was enacted, but no citations were issued, given that police must see the fireworks being set off to issue a citation. However, she added that City officials are heartened by how residents complied with the ban enacted last November, and that there weren’t as many incidents of illegal fireworks being set off leading up to, and after, July 4.

“Residents did a really good job of honoring the ban. They were really respectful of it,” Cassaro said. “We’re hopeful that this ban will be equally successful.”

Cassaro said residents can dispose of fireworks at their nearest fire station.

This article appears in the Source September 3, 2026.