Council adopts tighter fireworks rules and drone-based enforcement after staff cite large July 4 workloads

The Fairfield City Council unanimously approved an amendment to the municipal code on May 26 that tightens restrictions on fireworks, expands legal definitions and adds enforcement tools including drone-based observation and administrative citations.

Police Sergeant Derek Fogg told the council the current ordinance lacked precise definitions that hampered enforcement and that the department experiences large spikes in calls on holidays (dispatch calls more than triple on July 4). The updated ordinance would allow the department to use drone imagery to identify the location of fireworks displays, then issue administrative citations to property owners or hosts where appropriate. Sergeant Fogg said the department plans to expand drone coverage to several stations and pursue FAA waivers to allow one‑to‑many control if needed for holidays.

The ordinance keeps so-called "safe and sane" fireworks illegal in city limits and adds host liability language to make property owners or lessees responsible when fireworks are discharged on their land. Fogg said aircraft height and operational safety constraints will be respected; drones would provide geolocated video as evidence and an appeals process under the municipal code would remain available.

Council members asked operational questions about staffing, potential contracting to scale up drone operations for holidays, and appeals; staff said the department intends to use department pilots and up to five drones at four locations in near-term deployment and will explore contracting and FAA waivers.

The council voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance amendment.