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Politics

Bill to allow Georgia communities to restrict fireworks approved

July 4, 2016 Atlanta - The finale fireworks spectacular light up over the Downtown skyline during Centennial Olympic Park's Fourth of July Celebration on Monday, July 4, 2016. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

July 4, 2016 Atlanta - The finale fireworks spectacular light up over the Downtown skyline during Centennial Olympic Park's Fourth of July Celebration on Monday, July 4, 2016. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM
By Mark Niesse
March 30, 2018

Georgia communities would be able to effectively ban loud fireworks except on a few holidays under a bill that cleared the state Legislature on Thursday.

The House voted 157-6 to allow local governments to regulate fireworks through their noise ordinances. The legislation, House Bill 419, now advances to Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature.

The Georgia General Assembly has allowed the purchase of fireworks since 2015, but there was no way for cities and counties to limit their use.

Residents would still be allowed to set off fireworks statewide regardless of noise ordinances on Jan. 1, the Saturday and Sunday before Memorial Day, July 3, July 4, Labor Day and New Year’s Eve.

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About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

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