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Niagara Falls
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Town passes new fireworks restrictions

Lighting up the sky with fireworks is going to get more complicated in NOTL.

An updated fireworks bylaw, regulating the sale and use of fireworks in town, was approved by Niagara-on-the-Lake council.

The new bylaw prohibits the use of flying lanterns as they pose a serious fire hazard if they land on trees or rooftops while still being ignited, town staff said in a report.

Fireworks displays will also have to be in accordance with the town’s noise bylaw, deputy fire chief Nick Ruller told councillors. If there are revisions to the noise bylaw in the future, these changes will tie in with the fireworks bylaw as well, Ruller added.

With a new bylaw, the fees for a firework approval and a special event permit will remain unchanged. Firecrackers and prohibited fireworks are also still banned.

The previous bylaw, passed in 2002, doesn’t address all the federal regulations and contains vague terminology, town staff said in a report to council.

Having recognized that the previous bylaw was outdated and didn’t include flying lanterns, fire department staff saw an opportunity to provide more clarity and clean up some terminology, Ruller said.

Town staff will make sure affected businesses and wineries are notified of the new bylaw, said Sheldon Randall, the town’s director of operations.

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