Mesa residents will be able to legally purchase consumer fireworks beginning December 10, with specific guidelines in place for their sale and use during the holiday season. According to city officials, legal fireworks may be sold in Mesa from December 10 through January 3. Residents are permitted to use these fireworks between December 26 and January 4, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., as well as from 11 p.m. on December 31 until 1 a.m. on January 1.
The city allows the sale and use of novelty items such as snappers (pop-its), party poppers, glow worms, snakes, toy smoke devices, and sparklers at all times. Legal consumer fireworks include ground spinners, sparkling wheel devices, and cylindrical, square, cone, or California rocket-shaped fountains during the approved period. However, fireworks that launch into the air—such as bottle rockets, firecrackers, roman candles, aerials, and single-tube devices—are prohibited in Mesa.
In an effort to improve public safety and compliance with state law, the Mesa City Council updated penalties in 2022 for violations related to illegal fireworks. Civil penalties now carry a minimum fine of $500 for infractions such as using permissible fireworks outside designated dates or times; using them on city property (except rights of way); or failing to display required signage when selling consumer fireworks.
Criminal offenses are classified as Class 1 misdemeanors and may result in fines ranging from $1,000 up to $2,500 and potential jail time of up to six months. These offenses include the use or sale of illegal fireworks; selling permissible consumer fireworks to individuals under age 16; violating state law regarding sales or usage days; using permissible consumer fireworks during fire restrictions near protected areas; failing to obtain necessary permits for public displays; not complying with permit safety requirements under A.R.S. 36-1603; or accumulating three civil violations within a span of three years.
Further details about regulations can be found in Title 6, Chapter 21 of the Mesa City Code regarding permissible consumer fireworks.
Fireworks also have environmental impacts in Maricopa County. The Maricopa Association of Governments has reported that winter celebrations involving fireworks frequently cause significant increases in fine particulate matter (PM-2.5) pollution levels across the region. On New Year’s Day 2025, a west Phoenix air quality monitor recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 366 for PM-2.5—one of the highest worldwide on that day—which is considered hazardous by the Environmental Protection Agency.
On January 1st in Mesa itself, air quality reached an AQI value of 137.1 for PM-2.5 particles—more than fifteen times above health standards set by authorities. Officials note that consumer-grade fireworks release smoke closer to ground level where it is more likely to be inhaled by residents. Such spikes in poor air quality are commonly observed throughout the valley during Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
