City Commissioners voted 3-2 during a special July 29 meeting to set a public hearing for their Aug. 5 meeting on sending fireworks to the November ballot.

As proposed, the ballot measure asks voters to approve or disapprove an amendment to city code that would restrict the use, sale and discharge of certain fireworks within city limits.

The proposed ordinance would prohibit the use of aerial devices, such as shells, rockets, and cakes, and devices
designed to explode, such as Roman candles, salutes, firecrackers, and similar items.

City moving toward sending fireworks to November ballot; no vote yet

The ordinance would continue to allow the use of novelty and other consumer fireworks as defined by Montana law, such as sparklers, fountains, snakes, and other non-explosive, non-aerial fireworks.

The ballot language, as proposed, would ask voters if yes or no to striking out the line in existing code “only those fireworks authorized by state law are permissible” with

A. Fireworks permitted to be sold and discharged within the municipal limits of the City of Great Falls are limited to those allowed by Mont. Code Ann. § 50-37-105 (2025), except that the following fireworks are strictly prohibited: 1)
fireworks designed to leave the ground, such as rockets, shells, cakes, missiles, and roman candles; and 2) fireworks designed to explode upon activation, such as salutes and firecrackers. Permitted fireworks typically include sparklers, fountains, ground spinners, snap caps, smoke devices, and novelty items.

B. Except as provided in paragraph A, above, or in city-approved and permitted public displays, fireworks (as defined by Mont. Code Ann. § 50-37-101) are not permitted to be sold and/or discharged within the city limits under this
chapter.

Commissioners considering fireworks rule change; no action yet taken

The change will only be incorporated into city code if a majority of voters vote yes.

The estimated cost to add the question to the November ballot is $88.

The estimated cost of the municipal election is $66,704.67, including the addition of the fireworks question, according to the county elections office.

Commissioner Susan Wolff said that she doesn’t think the disregard for the current fireworks rules is due to a lack of education.

City officials to discuss changes to fireworks rules on July 15

She said she agreed with a comment from the public that “you can’t legislate common sense. You either have it or you don’t.”

Commissioner Rick Tryon said he didn’t buy the argument that restrictions do nothing at all and that they’ve worked to a degree in other Montana cities.

Fatal fire believed to be caused by fireworks

Commissioner Joe McKenney reiterated his opposition to banning fireworks and to putting the question on the ballot but would reserve the rest of his comments for the Aug. 5 hearing.