Paramount adopts changes to fireworks-stand rules and signals support to raise social-host fine to $1,000

The Paramount City Council on Jan. 14, 2025, adopted Ordinance No. 1193 to revise local regulations governing the sale and administration of safe-and-sane fireworks and directed staff to return with a proposal to increase the social-host administrative fine.

The ordinance amends the municipal code to add definitions for fireworks stands and social hosts, updates administrative penalty language and extends the permitted daily sales start time for safe-and-sane fireworks from noon to 9 a.m. on most sale days; state law still requires sales to begin at noon on June 28. The revision also includes housekeeping updates to departmental references and enforcement language.

Interim Planning Director John King said the requested changes were largely housekeeping and aimed at providing clearer definitions to assist enforcement. “So this evening we're proposing to change the sales hours to begin not at 12, but at 9 a.m. for all the days,” King said, noting the one statutory exception for June 28.

Public-Safety Director Maggie Matson summarized enforcement and fines currently in the municipal code. Matson reviewed the city’s 0-tolerance policy for illegal fireworks and said the city’s existing civil penalties include fines of $250 for social-host violations, $2,000 for possession or use of illegal fireworks and $5,000 for selling illegal fireworks. Matson told the council that staff surveyed neighboring cities and recommended increasing the social-host fine to $1,000 to better align with regional practice and to strengthen deterrence. She also described the use of dash-cam video captured by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies to document illegal discharges and associated properties.

Council members asked about the appeal and payment process if fines are raised. Matson said recipients may submit appeals and that staff can accept fee-waiver applications while appeals are processed; she added that the city’s vendor for administrative citations provides payment plans when needed. Councilmember comments reflected support for stronger deterrents paired with administrative safeguards to address mistaken citations.

The council voted by roll call to adopt Ordinance No. 1193 (Aguayo: yes; Olmos: yes; Stallings: yes; Lemons: yes; Delgadillo: yes). Later in the discussion the council indicated a consensus to return at a subsequent meeting with a resolution raising the social-host administrative fine from $250 to $1,000 and asked staff to outline appeal and fee-waiver procedures to help residents who lack the ability to pay up front.

The ordinance is in effect as adopted; the social-host fine increase will be presented to the council for formal adoption at a future meeting.