The word fireworks as used in this article shall mean and include any combustible or explosive composition, or any substance or combination of substances, or article prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or an audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration or detonation, except paper caps, for use in cap pistols, containing not more than .25 grains of explosive mixture.

(Ord. 896; Code 2016)

(a)   No person, firm or corporation shall offer any fireworks for sale to any individual at retail before the 1^st day of July nor after the 4^th day of July in any year; provided, however, that this section shall not be construed as granting the right to sell at any time any of the types, kinds or classes of fireworks which are prohibited from sale in Kansas by the State Fire Marshall’s Department; and provided, further, that fireworks may be sold only with the written permission of the City Fire Chief and written application for permission to sell fireworks inside the city limits of the City of Beloit must be made to the City Clerk on or before June 1^st of each year in which the applicant proposes to sell fireworks.

(b)   No person, firm, corporation or association, either as principal, or agent, or employee, shall conduct, pursue, carry on or operate within the city, a place of business for the purpose of offering fireworks for sale until the person shall have first secured the approval of the fire chief as to the safety of the premises as a site for the sales of fireworks and, further, until a license tax of $50 for each such place of business shall have first been paid to the city clerk and the city clerk shall have executed a license therefor, which license shall be prominently displayed in the applicant’s place of business. No minor shall be eligible for the license nor be permitted to operate such place of business.

(Ord. 896; Ord. 1194; Ord. 1671; Ord. 1710; Code 2016; Ord. 2251; Ord. 2272)

(a)   It shall be unlawful for any person in the city to set off, discharge or explode, or to knowingly permit any other person on premises owned or controlled by him, including any street adjacent to such premises, to set off, discharge or explode any fireworks, except on the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and the 5^th days of July, and during those days the discharge of fireworks are unlawful between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Further articles of fireworks which are permitted to be sold in Kansas by the laws of the State of Kansas are all that is permitted by this article to be discharged or exploded in the city limits. Upon written permission of the Fire Chief of the City, fireworks to be used for exhibition purposes at fairs and celebrations may be sold and fired which otherwise are prohibited from sales to individuals provided the individuals in charge of the same are experienced in the handling of fireworks and the public attending such exhibition is kept at a safe distance.

(b)   It shall be unlawful for any person in the city to throw or threaten to throw any article of fireworks so as to cause it to explode or discharge in or under any automobile, bicycle, motorcycle, carriage or other vehicle or conveyance, or to throw or threaten to throw any such article in such a manner as to permit it to explode near enough to any person to injure such person or cause damage to his or her clothing, or to throw such article in such a manner as to permit it to explode within 20 feet of any animal.

(Ord. 896; Ord. 1646; Ord. 1671; Ord. 1710; Code 2016; Ord. 2251; Ord. 2272)

Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be adjudged to pay a fine not exceeding $100 or be imprisoned not more than three months, or both.

(Ord. 896; Code 2016)