O26-04-01 Fireworks Updates

City of El Mirage — Regular Meeting (2026-04-07)

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ORDINANCE NO. O26-04-01 
 
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL 
MIRAGE, ARIZONA, DECLARING THE “CITY OF EL MIRAGE 2026 
FIREWORKS UPDATES” ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT A AS PUBLIC 
RECORD; ADOPTING THE “CITY OF EL MIRAGE 2026 FIREWORKS 
UPDATES” BY REFERENCE AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY CODE 
OF EL MIRAGE, ARIZONA, AMENDING TITLE IX GENERAL 
REGULATIONS, BY AMENDING CHAPTER 95 PUBLIC SAFETY, 
SECTION 
95.02 
FIREWORKS, 
RELATED 
TO 
PROHIBITING 
CERTAIN CONSUMER FIREWORKS AND LIMITING THE TIMES OF 
USE 
FOR 
PERMISSIBLE 
CONSUMER 
FIREWORKS; 
INCORPORATING THE RECITALS BY REFERENCE; PROVIDING FOR 
THE REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; PRESERVING 
RIGHTS AND DUTIES; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY.  
WHEREAS, the City of El Mirage wishes to update City codes from time 
to time to more accurately reflect current conditions and realistic needs of 
the City; and 
WHEREAS, that certain document known as “City of El Mirage 2026 
Fireworks Updates”  of which at least one paper copy and one electronic copy 
is on file in the office of the City Clerk in compliance with Arizona Revised 
Statutes (A.R.S.) § 9-802 is hereby declared public record and at all times 
shall be kept available for public use and inspection during normal business 
hours; and  
WHEREAS, the City Council hereby desires to adopt the “City of El 
Mirage 2026 Fireworks Updates” as provided in this Ordinance. 
 
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND 
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL MIRAGE, ARIZONA, as follows: 
Section 1.  Recitals.  
 
The recitals set forth above are hereby incorporated as if fully set forth 
herein.  
 
Section 2. Adoption by Reference.  
 
The City of El Mirage Code is hereby amended by amending Title IX 
General Regulations, Chapter 95 Public Safety, Section 95.02 Fireworks to 
read as set forth in that certain document titled “City of El Mirage 2026

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Fireworks Updates” which document is hereby adopted and incorporated by 
reference as set forth in Exhibit A. 
 
Section 3.  Providing for Repeal of Conflicting Ordinances. 
 
 
All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of 
this Ordinance or any part of the Code adopted herein by reference, are hereby 
repealed. 
 
Section 4.  Preservation of Rights and Duties.   
 
 
This Ordinance does not affect the rights and duties that matured, 
penalties that were incurred, or proceedings that were begun before the 
effective date of this Ordinance. 
 
Section 5. Providing for Severability. 
 
 
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this 
Ordinance or any part of the Code adopted herein by reference, is for any 
reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of 
competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the 
remaining portions thereof. 
 
Section 6.  Effective Date.  
 
The effective date of this Ordinance shall be 30 days following adoption 
by the City Council if publication requirements are satisfied under A.R.S. §§ 
9-812 and 9-813.  
 
APPROVED, PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Mayor and Common 
Council of the City of El Mirage, Arizona this 7th day of April 2026 by the 
following vote: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CITY OF EL MIRAGE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alexis A. Hermosillo, Mayor

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ATTEST: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jill A. Boltz, City Clerk 
 
 
APPROVED AS TO FORM: 
 
_______________________________ 
Justin Pierce, City Attorney 
Pierce Coleman PLLC 
 
 
CERTIFICATION 
 
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Ordinance Number O26-04-01 
was duly passed and adopted by the Mayor and Council of the City of El 
Mirage, Arizona, at a regular meeting held on the 7th day of 
 April 2026, 
and that a quorum was present at the meeting. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jill A. Boltz, City Clerk 
 
 
 
 
[Exhibit on file at the City Clerk’s Office, 10000 North El Mirage Road, El 
Mirage, Arizona, 85335-3607.]

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EXHIBIT A 
CITY OF EL MIRAGE 
2026 FIREWORKS UPDATES 
The City Code of the City of El Mirage, amending Title IX General 
Regulations, Chapter 95 Public Safety, Section 95.02 Fireworks to read as 
follows (new text in BOLDED ALL CAPS; deletions in strikethrough):  
 
Title IX General Regulations 
* 
* 
* 
Chapter 95 Public Safety 
* 
* 
* 
95.02 Fireworks 
 
* 
* 
* 
95.02 Fireworks 
 
* 
* 
* 
   (A)   Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions 
shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different 
meaning. 
      CONSUMER FIREWORK. Those fireworks defined by A.R.S. § 36-1601. 
      DISPLAY FIREWORK. Those fireworks defined by A.R.S. § 36-1601. 
      FIREWORKS. Any combustible or explosive composition, substance or 
combination of substances, or any article prepared for the purpose of 
producing a visible or audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration 
or detonation, that is a consumer firework, display firework or permissible 
consumer firework as defined by A.R.S. § 36-1601. 
      NOVELTY ITEMS. Federally deregulated novelty items that are known as 
snappers, snap caps, party poppers, glow worms, snakes, toy smoke 
devices, sparklers, and certain toys as defined in A.R.S. § 36-1601. 
      PERMISSIBLE CONSUMER FIREWORKS. Those fireworks as defined by 
A.R.S. § 36-1601 that may be sold within the City of El Mirage even where 
the use of those items has been prohibited. 
      SUPERVISED PUBLIC DISPLAY. A monitored performance of display 
fireworks open to the public and authorized by permit issued by the Fire 
Chief or his or her designee. 
   (B)   Use of fireworks prohibited; exceptions.

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      (1)   Except as otherwise provided herein, the use, discharge or ignition 
of fireworks within the City of El Mirage is prohibited. 
      (2)   Nothing in this section or subchapter shall be construed to prohibit 
the use, discharge or ignition of novelty items or the occurrence of a 
supervised public display of fireworks. 
      (3)   Permits may be granted by the Fire Chief or designee for 
conducting a supervised public display of fireworks. Every supervised public 
display of fireworks shall be of such character and so located, discharged or 
fired, only after proper inspection and in a manner that does not endanger 
persons, animals, or property. The Fire Chief has authority to impose 
conditions on any permits granted. When a high fire danger is declared, the 
Fire Chief shall not issue a permit, or shall revoke a permit previously 
issued, for supervised public display of fireworks. 
   (C)   Sale of fireworks. 
      (1)   No person shall sell or permit or authorize the sale of permissible 
consumer fireworks to a person who is under 16 years of age. 
      (2)   No person shall sell or permit or authorize the sale of permissible 
consumer fireworks in conflict with state law. 
   (D)   Posting of signs by persons engaged in the sale of fireworks; civil 
penalty. 
      (1)   Prior to the sale of permissible consumer fireworks, every person 
engaged in such sales shall prominently display signs indicating the 
following: 
         (a)   The use of fireworks within the City of El Mirage, including 
permissible consumer fireworks, as defined by City of El Mirage Code, is 
prohibited. 
         (b)   Consumer fireworks authorized for sale under state law may not 
be sold to persons under the age of 16. 
      (2)   Signs required under this section shall be placed at each cash 
register and in each area where fireworks are displayed for sale. 
      (3)   The Fire Chief or designee shall develop regulations concerning the 
size and color of the required signs and shall develop a model sign. The 
required sign regulations and model sign shall be posted on the City of El 
Mirage's website and filed with the Clerk's office. 
      (4)   Failure to comply with divisions (D)(1) or (D)(2) above is a civil 
offense punishable by a minimum fine of not less than $500 or more than 
$1,000. 
   (E)   CONSUMER FIREWORKS. 
      (1)   THE USE, INCLUDING THE DISCHARGE OR IGNITION, OF 
PERMISSIBLE CONSUMER FIREWORKS IS PROHIBITED AS 
FOLLOWS: 
         (a)   ON DAYS OTHER THAN MAY 4 THROUGH MAY 6, JUNE 24 
THROUGH JULY 6 AND DECEMBER 26 THROUGH JANUARY 4 OF EACH

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YEAR AND THE SECOND AND THIRD DAYS OF DIWALI OF EACH 
YEAR; 
         (b)   ON ALL DAYS DURING A STAGE ONE OR HIGHER FIRE 
RESTRICTION THE USE OF PERMISSIBLE CONSUMER FIREWORKS 
WITHIN A ONE-MILE RADIUS OF THE BORDER OF ANY MUNICIPAL 
OR COUNTY MOUNTAIN PRESERVE, DESERT PARK, REGIONAL PARK, 
DESIGNATED CONSERVATION AREA, NATIONAL FOREST OR 
WILDERNESS AREA; AND 
        (c)   ON ALL DAYS BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 11:00 P.M. AND 
8:00 A.M., EXCEPT: 
          (i)   BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 11:00 P.M. ON DECEMBER 31 OF 
EACH YEAR THROUGH 1:00 A.M. ON JANUARY 1 OF EACH YEAR. 
          (ii)  BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 11:00 P.M. ON JULY 4 OF EACH 
YEAR THROUGH 1:00 A.M. ON JULY 5 OF EACH YEAR. 
      (2)   NO PERSON SHALL SELL OR PERMIT OR AUTHORIZE THE 
SALE OF PERMISSIBLE CONSUMER FIREWORKS ON DAYS OTHER 
THAN APRIL 25 THROUGH MAY 6, MAY 20 THROUGH JULY 6 AND 
DECEMBER 10 THROUGH JANUARY 3 OF EACH YEAR AND TWO DAYS 
BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF DIWALI THROUGH THE THIRD DAY OF 
DIWALI EACH YEAR. 
      (3)   THE SALE, USE, DISCHARGE, POSSESSION OR IGNITION OF 
ANY FIREWORK THAT IS NOT A PERMISSIBLE CONSUMER 
FIREWORK OR OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY THIS SECTION IS 
PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES. 
   (EF)   Authority to enforce violations of this article; means of 
enforcement. 
      (1)   The Fire Chief or designee, a City of El Mirage police officer, a City 
of El Mirage Code Enforcement Officer, or the City Attorney may issue civil 
complaints to enforce violations of this section. 
      (2)   Any person authorized pursuant to this section to issue a civil 
complaint may also issue a notice of violation specifying actions to be taken 
and the time in which they are to be taken to avoid issuance of a civil or 
criminal complaint. 
      (3)   A City of El Mirage police officer or the Fire Chief or his or her 
designee may issue criminal complaints to enforce this section. 
   (FG)   Liability for emergency responses related to use of fireworks; 
definitions. 
      (1)   A person who uses, discharges or ignites permissible consumer 
fireworks, prohibited novelty items, or anything that is designed or intended 
to rise into the air and explode or to detonate in the air or to fly above the 
ground, is liable for the expenses of any emergency response that is 
required by such use, discharge or ignition. The fact that a person is 
convicted or found responsible for a violation(s) of this section is prima facie 
evidence of liability under this section.

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      (2)   The expenses of an emergency response are a charge against the 
person, parent or legal guardian if a minor, liable for those expenses 
pursuant to division (F)(1) of this section. The charge constitutes a debt of 
that person and may be collected proportionately by the public agencies, 
for-profit entities or not-for-profit entities that incurred the expenses. The 
liability imposed under this section is in addition to and not in limitation of 
any other liability that may be imposed. 
      (3)   For the purposes of this division, the following definitions shall 
apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning: 
         EXPENSES OF AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE. Reasonable costs directly 
incurred by public agencies, for-profit entities or not-for-profit entities that 
make an appropriate emergency response to an incident. 
         REASONABLE COSTS. The ALL costs of providing police, fire fighting, 
rescue and emergency medical services at the scene of an incident and the 
salaries of the persons who respond to the incident. 
   (GH)   Penalty. A violation of any provision of § 95.02(B), or (C) OR (E) 
may be cited as either a civil infraction or class one misdemeanor offense. 
IF THE PERSON IS FOUND RESPONSIBLE OR GUILTY, THE PERSON 
SHALL PAY A FINE OF AT LEAST $1,000, BUT NOT MORE THAN 
$2,000, PER OFFENSE. Each day that a violation continues after due 
notice has been served, with reasonable opportunity to abate the violation, 
shall be deemed a separate offense.