Wisconsin has fireworks laws that allow some fireworks but not all, warns the Sauk County Sheriff’s Department.

Some materials described as legal according to state law may be prohibited by a local ordinance.

n Legal without a permit: State law allows the sale, possession and use, without a permit, of sparklers not exceeding 36 inches in length, stationary cones and fountains, toy snakes, smoke bombs, caps, noisemakers and confetti poppers with less than 1/4 grain of explosive mixture. There is no age restrictions on sale, possession or use of these devices and the statute does not classify them as fireworks.

The use and sale of some of these items may be prohibited by local ordinances. These are the only kinds of “fireworks,” as that word is commonly used, that a person may use or possess without a permit or that may be sold to a person who does not have a permit.

n Illegal without a permit: Possessing or using any other fireworks, including, for example, firecrackers, roman candles, bottle rockets and mortars, is illegal in Wisconsin without a permit. A commonly used rule of thumb is that a permit is required if the device explodes or if it blows up or goes up. The sale of these fireworks to a person without a valid permit is also illegal, unless the seller is a wholesaler who is selling to a nonresident for shipment out of state.

Permits can only be issued by a mayor, village president or town chair. Permits sold by a fireworks vendor are not legal.

Wisconsin residents and nonresidents who are found in possession of fireworks by law enforcement that require a permit and not in the possession of that permit could be issued a notice of violation and will have the fireworks confiscated.

A person who possesses or uses fireworks without a valid permit is subject to a forfeiture of up to a $1,000 per violation under the Wisconsin Statute.

Lake Delton

In the village of Lake Delton, no one is allowed to “sell, display, offer to sell, possess or possess with intent to sell, store, give away or use fireworks” within village limits, according to village ordinance.

Wisconsin Dells

In the City of Wisconsin Dells, no one can possess or use fireworks in the city without a user’s permit, except for the following kinds of fireworks: A cap containing no more than one-quarter grain of explosives, a toy snake without mercury, a sparkler no longer than 36 inches, a device designed to spray paper confetti or streamers, a device designed to burn pyrotechnic smoke-producing mixtures at a controlled rate, a fountain consisting of one or more tubes, a fuseless device designed to produce audible or visible effects.