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Committee debates modernizing fireworks code to account for drone displays and streamline approvals
Summary
The Economic Planning and Development Committee discussed proposed updates to Chapter 20 (Fire Prevention and Protection) to clarify permits for fireworks, add administrative approvals with council notification, include state fire marshal inspections and consider how to treat drone displays; committee members debated whether FAA or state fire authorities should be the primary regulator.
City staff asked the Economic Planning and Development Committee to consider revisions to the city's fireworks code to simplify approvals and to add language addressing aerial displays such as drones.
Staff framed the item as a discussion, not a final action, saying the current text in chapter 20 (Fire Prevention and Protection), article 4, is brief: "the city council may upon application grant permits to persons or organizations for special fireworks displays," and that staff would like to modernize the ordinance to reflect administrative approvals with council notification, state fire-marshal inspections and language for pyrotechnics used at the city stadium.
Committee members generally supported streamlining approvals but differed on how much technical detail the city should adopt. One member urged caution about rewriting sections already governed by state code and NFPA technical standards and said the fire department is not necessarily the right office to regulate drone operations: "Drones are not fireworks," a member said, arguing that commercial drone operators are licensed through FAA rules and that any large aerial display in controlled airspace would require FAA clearance or a waiver.
Staff and members noted practical considerations: fireworks displays currently require licensed shooters and local fire-marshal inspection, while drone light shows may not fit that review model and the FAA does not issue a single "permit" for a drone light show in the way a local permit is issued. Several members suggested the fire marshal should retain sign-off authority for fireworks displays and that the proposed ordinance should avoid overreaching into federal airspace regulation while adding notification and inspection steps for public safety.
No ordinance was drafted at the meeting; staff said if the committee agrees on the scope of revisions a draft ordinance would be prepared for future consideration, and members recommended consulting stadium operators to identify operational best practices for pyrotechnics at large venues.
The discussion noted no immediate change to approvals; staff will return with a draft if the committee requests one.
