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Arapahoe County reads proposed fireworks ban ordinance, schedules May 13 public hearing
Summary
On April 22 Arapahoe County held the statutorily required first reading of Ordinance No. 2025-01, which would prohibit the sale and use of fireworks in unincorporated Arapahoe County; the board set a public hearing on May 13, 2025, to consider adoption.
Arapahoe County held the required first reading April 22 of a proposed ordinance that would prohibit the sale and use of fireworks within the county’s unincorporated areas.
County Attorney Ron Karl read Ordinance No. 2025-01 into the record as required by state statute. The ordinance would prohibit sale and use of fireworks, including permissible fireworks as defined in state law, throughout unincorporated Arapahoe County. It states the prohibition would be effective until May 12, 2026, unless suspended earlier, but also explains that any ban on fireworks during the May 31–July 5 period requires a separate board resolution that includes a finding of high fire danger as allowed by Colorado law.
The ordinance text read aloud by Karl includes enforcement and penalties: enforcement by the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office and fines of $500 for a first offense, $750 for a second offense and $1,000 for a third and subsequent offense. The text also exempts supervised display fireworks if firefighting or local public-safety personnel are present and adequate fire suppression equipment is on site.
Following the reading, Commissioner Campbell moved to set a public hearing for adoption of the ordinance for May 13, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. and to order publication in the county newspaper at least 10 days prior; the motion was seconded and approved on a voice vote.
The ordinance references authority in Colorado Revised Statutes (including CRS §30-15-401 and the chapters governing fireworks) and replaces the county’s prior fireworks ordinance (Ordinance 2024-01). The board will consider public comment and a formal adoption vote at the scheduled hearing.
