WEST VIRGINIA
CHAPTER 29. MISCELLANEOUS BOARDS AND OFFICERS.
ARTICLE 3E. FIREWORKS SAFETY
§29-3E-1. Unlawful acts.
It is unlawful for a person to manufacture, wholesale, distribute, import, sell or store for the
purpose of resale, consumer fireworks, sparkling devices, novelties or toy caps without a license,
registration, certificate or permit from the State Fire Marshal.
§29-3E-2. Definitions.
As used in this article:
(1) "Agricultural and wildlife fireworks" means fireworks devices distributed to farmers, ranchers
and growers through a wildlife management program administered by the United States Department of the
Interior or the Division of Natural Resources of this state;
(2) “Amusement park” means any person or organization which holds a permit for the operation of
an amusement ride or amusement attraction under article ten, chapter twenty-one of this code;
(3) "APA Standard 87-1" means the APA Standard 87-1 published by the American Pyrotechnics
Association, as amended, and incorporated by reference into Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations;
(4) "Articles pyrotechnic" means pyrotechnic devices for professional use that are similar to
consumer fireworks in chemical composition and construction but not intended for consumer use, that meet
the weight limits for consumer fireworks but are not labeled as such, and that are classified as UN0431 or
UN0432 under 49 C.F.R. §172.101 (2014);
(5) "Consumer fireworks" means small fireworks devices that are designed to produce visible
effects by combustion that are required to comply with the construction, chemical composition and labeling
regulations promulgated by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission under 16 C.F.R. Parts
1500 and 1507 (2014), and that are listed in APA Standard 87-1. Consumer fireworks do not include
sparkling devices, novelties, toy caps or model rockets;
(6) "Consumer fireworks certificate" means a certificate issued under section five of this article;
(7) "Display fireworks" means large fireworks to be used solely by professional pyro-technicians
licensed by the State Fire Marshal and designed primarily to produce visible or audible effects by
combustion, deflagration or detonation and includes, but is not limited to, salutes containing more than two
grains (one hundred thirty milligrams) of explosive materials, aerial shells containing more than forty
grams of pyrotechnic compositions and other display pieces that exceed the limits of explosive materials
for classification as consumer fireworks and are classified as fireworks UN0333, UN0334, or UN0335
under 49 C.F.R. §172.101 (2014);
(8) "Distributor" means a person who sells fireworks to wholesalers and retailers for resale;
(9) "Division 1.3 explosive" means that term as defined in 49 C.F.R. §173.50 (2014);
(10) "Division 1.4 explosive" means that term as defined in 49 C.F.R. §173.50 (2014);
(11) "Explosive composition" means a chemical or mixture of chemicals that produces an audible
effect by deflagration or detonation when ignited;
(12) "Fire Marshal" means the State Fire Marshal;
(13) "Firework" or "fireworks" means any composition or device designed for the purpose of
producing a visible or audible effect by combustion, deflagration or detonation. Fireworks include
consumer fireworks, display fireworks and special effects. Fireworks does not include sparkling devices,
novelties, toy caps or model rockets;
(14) "Interstate wholesaler" means a person who is engaged in interstate commerce selling
fireworks;
(15) “Model rocket” means that term as defined in National Fire Protection Association Standard
1122, “Code for Model Rocketry”;
(16) "New explosive" means that term as defined in 49 C.F.R. §173.56 (2014);
(17) "NFPA 1123" means National Fire Protection Association Standard 1123, "Code for
Fireworks Display;"
(18) "NFPA 1124" means National Fire Protection Association Standard 1124, "Code for the
Manufacture, Transportation, Storage, and Retail Sales of Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles,” 2006
Edition;
(19) "NFPA 1126" means National Fire Protection Association Standard 1126, "Standard for the
Use of Pyrotechnics Before a Proximate Audience;"
(20) "Novelties" means that term as defined under APA standard 87-1, section 3.2; but shall not
include toy pistols, toy caps, toy canes, toy guns or other similar devices;
(21) “Permanent” means that term as defined in NFPA 1124;
(22) "Person" means an individual or the responsible person for an association, an organization, a
partnership, a limited partnership, a limited liability company, a corporation or any other group or
combination acting as a unit;
(23) “Public display of fireworks” means a public entertainment feature that is advertised to the
general public or is on public property that includes the display or discharge of fireworks;
(24) "Pyrotechnic composition" means a mixture of chemicals that produces a visible or audible
effect by combustion rather than deflagration or detonation. A pyrotechnic composition will not explode
upon ignition unless severely confined;
(25) "Retailer" means a person who purchases consumer fireworks for resale to consumers;
(26) "Sparkling devices" means "ground or handheld sparkling devices" as that phrase is defined
under APA 87-1, sections 3.1.1 and 3.5;
(27) "Special effects" means a combination of chemical elements or chemical compounds capable
of burning independently of the oxygen of the atmosphere and designed and intended to produce an
audible, visual, mechanical or thermal effect as an integral part of a motion picture, radio, television,
theatrical or opera production or live entertainment;
(28) “Temporary” means that term as defined in NFPA 1124;
(29) "Toy caps" means that term as defined under APA 87-1, section 3.3; and
(30) "Wholesaler" means any person who sells consumer fireworks to a retailer or any other
person for resale and any person who sells articles of pyrotechnics, display fireworks, and special effects to
a person licensed to possess and use those devices.
§29-3E-3. Production or transportation of fireworks.
A person may produce or transport a firework that is a new explosive and that is either a division
1.3 explosive or division 1.4 explosive if the person first meets the requirements of 49 C.F.R. §173.56(2)(j)
(2014).
§29-3E-4. Sparkling devices and novelties registration required.
(a) A person may not sell sparkling devices or novelties without being registered with the State
Fire Marshal.
(b) To be registered with the State Fire Marshal, the person shall:
(1) Submit an application to the State Fire Marshal;
(2) Provide a copy of his or her current business registration certificate or his or her certificate to
sell sparklers and novelties issued by the State Tax Commissioner;
(3) Pay the required fee; and
(4) Provide other information as the State Fire Marshal may require by legislative rule.
(c) A registration is valid for the calendar year or any fraction thereof and expires on December 31
of each year.
(d) A registration is not transferable.
(e) A person shall post the registration in a conspicuous place at the location of the business.
(f) A separate registration is required for each location.
(g) The fee required in subdivision (3), subsection (b) of this section shall be $15.00 per retail
location.
(h) The fee assessed by this section shall be retained by the State Fire Marshal and expended to
offset costs incurred in performing the duties imposed by the provisions of this code.
§29-3E-5. Consumer fireworks certificate required.
(a) A retailer may not sell consumer fireworks unless the retailer is certified under this article.
(b) To be certified to sell consumer fireworks a retailer shall:
(1) Submit an application to the State Fire Marshal;
(2) Submit with the application a copy of his or her current business registration certificate;
(3) Pay a fee of $500.00 for each temporary retail sales location and $1000.00 for each permanent
retail sales location to the State Fire Marshal;
(4) Provide the State Fire Marshal proof that the retailer maintains at all times public liability and
product liability insurance with minimum coverage limits of $1 million dollars to cover losses, damages or
injuries that might result from selling consumer fireworks; and
(5) Provide other information as the State Fire Marshal may require by legislative rule.
(c) A consumer fireworks certificate is valid from April 1 through March 31 of the next calendar
year.
(d) A consumer fireworks certificate is not transferable.
(e) A retailer shall post the certificate in a conspicuous place at the location of the business.
(f) A separate certificate is required for each location of the business.
(g) A certificate holder may also sell sparkling devices and novelties at the same location without
additionally obtaining a sparkling devices and novelties registration.
(h) A retailer who sells consumer fireworks shall comply with the regulations provided in NFPA
1124.
(i) A retailer who sells consumer fireworks shall comply with all regulations provided in NFPA
1124. The State Fire Marshal may by legislative rule, promulgate rules to supplement those rules
established in NFPA 1124.
(j) A retailer shall sell the consumer fireworks only from a permanent building or structure that
meets the specifications in NFPA 1124 or a temporary facility or structure that meets the specifications of
NFPA 1124.7.3.5.
(k) Any fees collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the State Fire Marshal Fees
Fund established by the provisions of section twelve-b, article three, chapter twenty-nine of this code.
(l) Notwithstanding any provision of this article to the contrary, no retailer may offer consumer
fireworks for sale before June 1, 2016.
§29-3E-7. Fireworks safety fee; administration; tax crimes; collections; remittances; deposits;
distributions; rules.
(a) In addition to the sales tax, a fireworks safety fee of twelve percent of all sales is levied on
retail sales of consumer fireworks in this state. The fee shall be distributed pursuant to the provisions of this
subsection. The fee computation under this subsection shall be carried to the third decimal place, and the
fee rounded up to the next whole cent whenever the third decimal place is greater than four, and rounded
down to the lower whole cent whenever the third decimal place is four or less.
The State Tax Commissioner shall disburse all proceeds of the fireworks safety fee into the state treasury
each month in the following manner:
(1) Seventy-five percent shall be deposited into a special account in the State Treasury, designated
the Veterans’ Facility Support Fund established by the provisions of section eleven, article one, chapter
nine-a for expenditure on veterans’ programs.
(2) Twenty-five percent shall be deposited into a special account in the State Treasury, designated
the Fire Protection Fund established in section thirty-three, article three, chapter thirty-three of this code
and distributed in accordance with that section to each volunteer fire company or department on an equal
share basis by the State Treasurer.
(b) A person who purchases consumer fireworks in a retail transaction shall pay to the retailer the
amount of the fee levied by this section, which fee is added to and constitutes a part of the sale price, and is
collectible by the retailer who shall account to the state for all fees paid by a purchaser. If the retailer fails
to collect the fee, or fails to account to the state for the fees paid by a purchaser, then the retailer is liable
for the payment of the fee to the state.
(c) A retailer shall remit to the State Tax Commissioner no later than thirty days after the end of
each preceding month all moneys collected for such preceding month, pursuant to the requirements of this
section, and shall report such collections on forms and in the manner prescribed by the State Tax
Commissioner.
(d) All moneys so remitted, net of refunds and adjustments, shall be paid by the State Tax
Commissioner into the funds specified in this section.
(e) Each and every provision of the West Virginia Tax Crimes and Penalties Act set forth in article
nine, chapter eleven of this code applies to the fees imposed pursuant to this article, with like effect as if
that act were applicable only to the fees imposed by this article and were set forth in extenso in this article.
(f) The State Tax Commissioner shall propose legislative rules and may promulgate such
emergency rules as are necessary to implement the provisions of this article.
§29-3E-8. State Fire Marshal’s Rule-making Authority.
(a) The State Fire Marshal may promulgate emergency rules and shall propose legislative rules for
promulgation, in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, to
implement the provisions of this article, including:
(1) Adopting by reference the most recent edition of APA Standard 87-1;
(2) Adopting by reference the most recent edition of NFPA 1123, Code for Fireworks Display;
(3) Adopting by reference NFPA 1124, code for the manufacture, transportation, storage and retail
sales of fireworks and pyrotechnic articles;
(4) Adopting by reference the most recent edition of NFPA 1126, standard for the use of
pyrotechnics before a proximate audience;
(5) Procedures for the issuance and renewal of a registration, certificate and permit;
(6) A fee schedule;
(7) Establishing insurance or bond requirements;
(8) Establishing additional criteria for the granting of a registration, certificate, or permit under
this article; and
(9) Registration of manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors.
§29-3E-9. Exemptions.
This article does not prohibit any of the following:
(1) The use of fireworks by railroads or other transportation agencies for signaling purposes or
illumination;
(2) The use of agricultural and wildlife fireworks;
(3) The sale or use of blank cartridges for a theatrical performance, use by military organizations
or signal or ceremonial purposes in athletics or sports; or
(4) The possession, sale or disposal of fireworks incidental to the public display of fireworks by
wholesalers or other persons who have a permit to possess, store and sell explosives from the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives of the United States Department of Justice and the State Fire
Marshal.
§29-3E-10. Local municipalities’ regulation of consumer fireworks.
This article does not affect the authority of the governing body of a municipality to prohibit or
regulate the use of consumer fireworks within its boundaries.
§29-3E-11. Violations of this article; penalties.
(a) A person may not intentionally ignite, discharge or use consumer fireworks on public or
private property without the express permission of the owner to do so.
(b) A person may not intentionally ignite or discharge any consumer fireworks or sparkling
devices within or throw the same from a motor vehicle or building.
(c) A person may not intentionally ignite or discharge any consumer fireworks or sparkling
devices into or at a motor vehicle or building, or at any person or group of people.
(d) A person may not intentionally ignite or discharge any consumer fireworks or sparkling device
while the person:
(1) Is under the influence of alcohol;
(2) Is under the influence of any controlled substance;
(3) Is under the influence of any other drug; or
(4) Is under the combined influence of alcohol and any controlled substance or any other drug.
(e) A person who is less than eighteen years of age may not purchase, nor offer for sale, consumer
fireworks.
(f) The provisions of this section shall be effective June 1, 2016.
§29-3E-12. Miscellaneous offenses; penalties.
Any person who violates a provision of this article for which a penalty is not expressly set forth is
guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100.00 nor more than
$500.00. The provisions of this section shall be effective June 1, 2016.
§29-3E-13. Seizures by the State Fire Marshal; enforcement of law.
(a) The State Fire Marshal shall seize, take, remove and dispose of at public auction or destroy, or
cause to be seized, taken or removed and disposed of at public auction, or destroyed at the expense of the
owner, all stocks of fireworks or combustibles offered for sale, stored or held in violation of this article or
an emergency or legislative rule promulgated hereunder.
(b) The West Virginia State Police, deputy sheriffs, municipal police officers and other lawenforcement
officers shall assist in the enforcement of this article.
