Breaking: Escaped Rockdale inmate arrested in Newton County
Politics
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.

Never miss a minute of what’s happening in Georgia Politics at PoliticallyGeorgia.com.

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.

Follow Mark Niesse on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Athens-area voters will vote in a special election on Dec. 9 to fill a vacancy in House District 121. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Athens area voters to decide new state representative in special election

With a state House seat in Athens open, Republicans are looking to preserve the seat while Democrats are hoping to flip it.

Akbar Ali wins Gwinnett state House seat in runoff election

Democrats Akbar Ali defeated Democrat Marqus Cole in a runoff special election Tuesday to represent House District 106, which covers portions of Lawrenceville and Snellville.

Teen GOP activist steps down from party leadership post

Greene County native and University of North Georgia student Ja’Quon Stembridge, 19, had run on boosting youth involvement in the party.

The Latest

Georgia state Rep. Houston Gaines, R-Athens, hopes to win a seat in Congress. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

LISTEN

State lawmaker Houston Gaines explains why he’s running for Congress

Athens area voters to decide new state representative in special election

Akbar Ali wins Gwinnett state House seat in runoff election

Featured

Austin Walters died from an overdose in 2021 after taking a Xanax pill laced with fentanyl, his father said. A new law named after Austin and aimed at preventing deaths from fentanyl has resulted in its first convictions in Georgia, prosecutors said. (Family photo)

Credit: Family photo

A 30-year-old’s overdose sparked a new law. Now courts are testing how far it can go.

Austin’s Law, passed in 2024, is leading to convictions of fentanyl dealers after a father’s fight for justice following his son’s overdose death.

Jared Curtis isn’t the only Georgia football storyline to watch on signing day

What will National Signing Day look like? It is starting to materialize significant storylines.

Search for inmate who escaped from Grady hospital enters second day

Timothy Shane is accused of stealing an SUV and then crashing it during the getaway, according to authorities.