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Setting off fireworks for the 4th of July? Here’s where it’s allowed around Kansas City

A fireworks show at Pyro City in Lone Jack, a retail store owned by Winco Fireworks company.
A fireworks show at Pyro City in Lone Jack, a retail store owned by Winco Fireworks company. syang@kcstar.com

The 4th of July is fast approaching, and that means it’s fireworks season. Depending on where you’re at around Kansas City, you will either be able to set them off freely or you’ll have restrictions on what you can light up the night with.

WHERE CAN YOU SET THEM OFF?

It varies. Most places allow them on the 4th of July weekend, but only during specific times. Take a look at where they’re allowed and what you can blow up.

KANSAS

Leawood, Merriam, Mission, Olathe and Prairie Village all do not allow fireworks within city limits. Here’s where you can light fireworks elsewhere in Kansas:

  • Bonner Springs: You can shoot fireworks on July 3-4 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m, but bottle rockets aren’t permitted.

  • Kansas City: You can shoot off fireworks July 2-4 from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., but bottle rockets and skyrockets are prohibited. It’s also illegal in KCK to shoot fireworks on any public road, alley or sidewalk, within 150 feet of fireworks stands or within 100 feet of a gas station.

  • Lenexa: Only novelty fireworks like snakes and smoke bombs are allowed.

  • Overland Park: Snappers, snakes, toy pistols with caps and toy canes with caps are the only fireworks allowed.

  • Roeland Park: You can shoot off fireworks between noon and 10 p.m. on July 4 throughout the city, but it’s only basic firecrackers, sparklers, snakes and snaps. You can’t set off any other types of fireworks in the streets or on any private property, like school parking lots

  • Shawnee: Bottle rockets, sky lanterns and M80s are prohibited, but you can light other fireworks from July 3-4 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

MISSOURI

Gladstone, Grandview, Kansas City and North Kansas City don’t allow fireworks within their city limits, but these cities do:

  • Blue Springs: You can set off fireworks on July 1-3 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on July 4 from 10 a.m. to midnight. Aerial luminaries and bottle rockets aren’t allowed.

  • Independence: Fireworks are allowed July 3 and July 5 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m, and July 4 from 10 a.m. to midnight.

  • Lee’s Summit: You can light up fireworks on July 2-3 from 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. and on July 4 from 10 a.m. and midnight. You’ll have to get a fireworks-use permit for free from a licensed fireworks vendor or from city hall. The list of fireworks that aren’t allowed includes bottle rockets, Roman candles, illuminating torches, missiles with fins or rudders and single or multi-shot parachutes with night effects.

  • Liberty: Fireworks are allowed from July 3-4 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. You can light aerial fireworks only on plots of land three acres or bigger.

  • Parkville: Fireworks are allowed July 1-3 and July 5 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. They are allowed July 4 from 10 a.m. to midnight. The only fireworks allowed are ground-based devices like snakes, smoke bombs, etc.

  • Raymore: You can light fireworks on July 1-3 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and they’re allowed on July 4 from 10 a.m. to midnight. You have to get permission from the City Council to light fireworks on public grounds.

  • Raytown: You can light fireworks from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 4 and from noon to 10 p.m. July 5th. You’ll have to get a permit from city hall or the fire department, and you can’t light bottle rockets, Roman candles, sky lanterns or any form of stick missiles.

  • Riverside: Fireworks are allowed from June 26 to July 2 and on July 5 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. They’re also allowed on July 3-4 from 10 a.m. to midnight. If you’re going to shoot fireworks, make sure you’re at least 600 feet away from churches, hospitals, medical facilities, public schools, libraries or daycare facilities.

If you’re going to light fireworks, be safe.

This story was originally published June 25, 2022 at 5:00 AM.

Joseph Hernandez
The Kansas City Star
Joseph Hernandez joined The Kansas City Star’s service journalism team in 2021. A Cristo Rey Kansas City High School and Mizzou graduate, he now covers trending topics and finds things for readers to do around the metro.
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