Information About Mesa Fireworks Sale and Use During the Holiday Season

December 9, 2025 at 1:27 pm

Mesa residents can legally purchase consumer fireworks starting Dec. 10. Knowing what to buy and when to use the fireworks will help residents avoid costly civil or criminal penalties. Legal fireworks are available for sale in Mesa from Dec. 10 through Jan. 3 and can be used in the City from Dec. 26 until Jan. 4 between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. and from 11 p.m. on Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. on Jan. 1.

The sale and use of novelty items such as snappers (pop-its), party poppers, glow worms, snakes, toy smoke devices and sparklers are permitted at all times.

Legal fireworks allowed from Dec. 26 until Jan. 4 include ground spinners, sparkling wheel devices and cylindrical, square, cone and California rocket-shaped fountains. Fireworks that shoot high in the air aren't allowed in Mesa. Illegal fireworks include bottle rockets, firecrackers, roman candles, aerials and single-tube devices.

In 2022 the Mesa City Council approved criminal penalties for selling and using illegal fireworks and updated civil penalty fines.

Civil penalties include a minimum $500 fine:

Use of permissible fireworks outside of allowed days/times
Use of permissible fireworks on City property (excluding the right of way)
Failure to display required, permissible consumer fireworks signage at the sale

Class 1 Misdemeanor penalties include a fine of no less than $1,000 and up to $2,500, and a court may impose up to 6 months in jail:

For use, possession, or sale of illegal fireworks
Permissible consumer fireworks sold to anyone under 16, that conflicts with state law, or on prohibited days
Use of permissible consumer fireworks during stage one or higher fire restriction near protected areas
Failure to obtain a permit for a supervised public display of fireworks
Failure to comply with permit and safety requirements of A.R.S. 36-1603 (permit for public display)
Three civil violations within 36 months

More information about the sale and use of fireworks in Mesa can be found in Title 6, Chapter 21 of the Mesa City Code pertaining to fireworks and permissible consumer fireworks.

Fireworks are also a contributor to winter air pollution in Maricopa County. The Maricopa Association of Governments warns that winter fireworks celebrations frequently cause dangerous spikes in fine particulate matter (PM-2.5). On New Year's Day 2025, one west Phoenix air quality monitor recorded the third-worst PM 2.5 air pollution level in the world, reaching an AQI of 366-classified as hazardous by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Mesa's air quality on Jan. 1 reached 137.1, more than 15 times above the health standard.

Consumer fireworks produce smoke closer to the ground, where it is more easily inhaled. Holiday air quality spikes are common valley-wide, especially around Christmas and New Year's.