Community Corner

Fireworks: What's Legal in Illinois and Tinley Park

The list of what kind of devices people can buy and ignite in the state isn't the same as what's allowed in the village. Find out what the differences are.

Illinois is not what you would call a firework friendly state, despite the giant billboards advertising pyrotechnic retailers that line I-80 as you approach the Indiana border.

When it comes to using explosives for festive occasions, the state does not subscribe to the quote from the episode of The Simpsons included in this article: "Celebrate the independence of your nation by blowing up a small part of it." (Go to the video clip's YouTube page to view it on a mobile device.)

Under state law, fireworks, such as bottle rockets and Roman candles, are prohibited. In fact, many of the devices sold at those border stores in the Hoosier State are illegal in the Land of Lincoln.

The only legal loud-and-flashy devices are meant to stay out of the hands of private citizens and reserved for public displays, which require permits.

"Let the professionals put the show on," said Dan Riordan, senior fire inspector for the Tinley Park Fire Department. "As far as fireworks go, if you have to light it, it's not legal [in Tinley Park]. That includes sparklers."

Patch breaks down what's allowed and what's prohibited in the state and the village when it comes to things that go boom.

What's Legal in Illinois


The state allows devices known as novelty fireworks, which are the Macbeth of pyrotechnics—"full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." These legal devices include:
  • snake or glow-worm pellets
  • smoke devices
  • noisemakers, such as "party poppers" and "snappers"
  • sparklers
  • cap guns
A new law that went into effect this year also allows cones that shoot fountains of sparks and items called mines, comets and parachutes, which shoot into the air and low levels and leave a trail of sparks. These devices fall under the consumer fireworks category, and individuals must have a permit in order to use them.

What's Legal in Tinley Park


The state allows municipalities to create stricter prohibitions on fireworks at the local level. So while Illinois allows things like sparklers, smoke bombs and snake pellets, the Village of Tinley Park has banned them.

In fact, cap guns are the only novelty fireworks that residents can use in the village.

What's the Penalty


Selling, possessing, manufacturing or using banned fireworks in Tinley Park is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a fine of $500 if convicted.

SOURCES: Village of Tinley Park Code of Ordinances; State Fire Marshal's Office


Other Fireworks Stories on Tinley Park Patch:


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here