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Waseca County lowers fireworks permit fee to $25 and moves permitting to sheriff in 2025 fee schedule
Summary
After a public hearing with no public comment, the Waseca County Board amended its 2025 fee schedule to reduce the fireworks permit fee from $250 to $25 and move responsibility for fireworks permits to the sheriff's office; the board also clarified event-specific treatment of gambling licenses.
The Waseca County Board voted to amend its 2025 fee schedule on an annual-fee public hearing, cutting the fireworks permit fee to $25 per event and moving the permitting function to the sheriff’s office for public-safety oversight.
Staff explained the fee schedule is required by Minnesota statute and that neighboring counties charge $25 or $50; one staff member said five neighboring counties charge $25 and one charges $50. Commissioners said shifting fireworks permitting to the sheriff’s office made sense because of safety and enforcement considerations. The board also discussed gambling licenses, directing that event-specific fundraising permits be handled per event while continuing to honor state-authorized annual licenses for establishments that hold daily or ongoing gaming as allowed by state law.
The board held the required public hearing on the fee schedule; no members of the public spoke. After amendments (move fireworks permitting to the sheriff and set fireworks permit at $25; change some gambling licenses from an annual to a per-event treatment in the fee schedule), the board approved the amended fee schedule on a voice vote.
Commissioners and staff noted the county will continue to coordinate with state licensing where state law governs gambling and that administrative procedures will be used to accommodate organizations that hold multiple events over a season.
