KRS § 227.710 — KY Code / Title XIX / Chapter 227 / Section 227.710
227.710 Sale or use of display fireworks prohibited -- Exceptions
Status: in_force

227.710 Sale or use of display fireworks prohibited -- Exceptions.

No person, firm, copartnership, or corporation shall offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at

retail, keep with intent to sell, possess, use, or explode any display fireworks, except as

follows:

(1) (a) In cities the chief of the fire department, or mayor, or similar official where

there is no fire department, and in counties outside of cities the county

judge/executive, may grant permits for supervised public displays of fireworks

by municipalities, fair associations, amusement parks, and other organizations

or groups of individuals.

(b) Every display shall be handled by a competent display operator to be approved

by the public official by whom the permit is granted, and shall be of such

character, and so located, discharged or fired as in the opinion of the official,

after proper inspection, to not be hazardous to property or endanger any

person.

(c) "Competent display operator" shall be defined as the person with overall

responsibility for the operation and safety of a fireworks display. The

competent display operator shall have a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,

Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) License and have participated as an assistant

in firing at least five (5) public displays. A "competent display operator" is

also an employee possessor. A permit under paragraph (a) of this subsection

shall be issued only to a competent display operator holding an ATF license.

(d) At least one (1) competent display operator shall be on site during display set-

up and firing. This competent display operator shall maintain a copy of the

permit application, as signed by the local authority having jurisdiction as

identified in this section, on site and at all times the display is in place, and

shall be presented on demand of the state fire marshal or local fire chief. All

public displays that require issuance of a permit shall be conducted in

accordance with the provisions of National Fire Protection Association

(NFPA) 1123 - Code for Fireworks Display (adopted edition).

(e) Permits shall be filed with the state fire marshal at least fifteen (15) days in

advance of the date of the display. After the privilege is granted, sales,

possession, use, and distribution of fireworks for the display shall be lawful

for that purpose only. No permit granted under this subsection shall be

transferable. For the purposes of this subsection, "public display of fireworks"

shall include the use of pyrotechnic devices or pyrotechnic materials before a

proximate audience, whether indoors or outdoors.

(f) Any person remaining within the display area shall be identified as licensed by

the ATF, or an employee thereof, or be an assistant in training to become a

competent display operator. All persons remaining within the display area

shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age.

(g) The commissioner of the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction

with recommendation from the state fire marshal shall promulgate

administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to administer

the provisions of this subsection. The regulations shall address the process by

which permits are issued and any other procedures that are reasonably

necessary to effectuate this subsection.

(2) The sale, at wholesale, of any display fireworks for permitted displays by any

resident manufacturer, wholesaler, dealer, or jobber, in accordance with regulations

of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives if the

sale is to the person holding a display permit as outlined in subsection (1) of this

section. The permit holder shall present the permit along with other verifiable

identification at the time of sale.

(3) The sale of display fireworks in accordance with a license issued by the United

States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

(4) The sale and use in emergency situations of pyrotechnic signaling devices and

distress signals for marine, aviation, and highway use.

(5) The use of fuses and railway torpedoes by railroads.

(6) The sale and use of blank cartridges for use in a show or theater or for signal or

ceremonial purpose in athletics or sports.

(7) The use of any pyrotechnic device by military organizations.

(8) The use of fireworks for agricultural purposes under the direct supervision of the

United States Department of the Interior or any equivalent or local agency.

(9) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a person, firm, co-partnership, nonprofit, or

corporation from offering for sale, exposing for sale, selling at retail, keeping with

intent to sell, possessing or using consumer fireworks as defined in KRS 227.702

and as permitted pursuant to KRS 227.715.