The Redmond City Council passed Ordinance No. 2025-21, which prohibits, except on July 4, “the use of any and all fireworks” within city limits. Mayor Ed Fitch approved it the same day on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
Per Oregon state law, the term “fireworks” refers to “consumer fireworks, display fireworks, exempt fireworks, pyrotechnic articles, special effects; and other pyrotechnic devices” that “are capable of producing audible, visual, mechanical or thermal effects through combustion, deflagration or detonation; and contain chemical elements and compounds that are capable of burning independently of atmospheric oxygen or contain flammable liquid mixtures or flammable gas mixtures.”
To translate, it won’t be easy to find a loophole in Redmond’s ban.
If you get caught trying, though, don’t jump to speed-dial your lawyer right away. A violation of the ordinance, which can be found in Chapter 5 of the Redmond City Code, is a Class F civil infraction – petty stuff compared to the Class C infraction of riding a “sheep, swine, or similar animal” on public sidewalks, but still worthy of a hefty penalty that, according to City Councilor Kathryn Osborne, can amount to $1,500.
Anyone who racks up multiple infractions will be playing with fire as well as fireworks. “Repeat violations,” the ordinance reads, will be “treated as a [criminal] misdemeanor.”
Redmond has outlawed fireworks twice in the past, but those bans were temporary, issued as “emergency ordinances.” Now, the ban is here to stay. “The unregulated use of any kind of fireworks poses significant risks to public safety, including the potential for wildfires, property damage, and personal injury,” reads Ordinance No. 2025-21.
“We took what we did with the emergency ban and made it permanent,” said Redmond City Councilor Cat Zwicker. “Legal fireworks are allowed on July 4th—something residents ask about every year,” Mayor Fitch told the Source. “With the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence coming up, it’s a timely reminder that we can celebrate safely, while still prioritizing fire prevention like other communities.”
Despite their use being illegal every other day of the year, businesses will still be permitted to sell legal fireworks in Redmond. This differs from Bend, where the “use, sale, and possession” of fireworks have all been banned within city limits since 2021.
For anyone in Redmond desperate to light something (legal) off, unincorporated Deschutes County may be the only option, as Madras and Sisters also enforce strict bans. But be sure to comply with all Oregon Department of Forestry fire restrictions, or you’ll be facing far worse than a Class F civil infraction.
Editor’s Note: Added link to ODF Central Oregon District fire restrictions on county lands.
This article appears in Source Weekly November 27, 2025.
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👏🏻 protecting people from sparklers, goin after the big issues I see, instead of robbing kids of another thing how about you clean up our woods you let get completely trashed if your so worried about fire hazard’s, but that means you’d actually have to work 😯
You can still light them on 4th if July. Sparklers are fine. Kids shouldnt be setting off fireworks anyway. No kid is being robbed.
Another good reason to vote out Fitch and Company at the next available opportunity.
Why? This is better than what Bend, Madras and Sisters do. You can still light them on the 4th of July. I know my whole neighborhood will appreciate this!
All areas under the protection of the state forestry department need to follow the rules and restriction of the department. This includes most of Deschutes Country rural residents and can include bans on all fireworks. You should make a revision to reflect this and not send them my way. The wildfire thing is out of control.
A link to ODF fire restrictions has been added. Thanks for the comment, Mark.
Bunch oh crieing what babies OF MY GOD SOME ONE SET OFF FIRE WORKS .BUNCH IF COMMUNIST DEMONRATS ALL ABOUT CONTROL