Any firework that leaves the ground is illegal in Dare County, which is home to all the towns of the Outer Banks except Corolla and Ocracoke. And in some towns, all fireworks are illegal, sparklers and coiling snakes included.
In Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills, the local ordinances follow North Carolina law, banning bottle rocks and mortars and anything that leaves the ground or has a report or “bang.” Pyrotechnics, commonly known as “safe and sane” fireworks, are the only ones allowed in North Carolina. They include caps, snakes and glow worms, smoke devices, trick noise makers, sparklers and other sparkling devices such as fountains.
Anyone violating the fireworks ordinance faces a mandatory court appearance and $250 fine. But the law appears to be rarely enforced.
In Duck, the sale of fireworks is permitted, but the use of all fireworks, including sparkers, smoke bombs, snake pellets and the like, is prohibited. Southern Shores, Nags Head and Cape Hatteras National Seashore also prohibit all fireworks of any kind.
The town of Manteo’s law prohibits the “shooting of firecrackers, sky rockets, Roman candles or other fireworks of any description” in town.
On Cape Hatteras National Seashore, it is illegal to detonate fireworks, or have fireworks in your possession, on all land managed by the National Park Service, including all beaches from the Nags Head border through Hatteras and Ocracoke islands.
In addition to fireworks being illegal and a fire risk to local communities, the personal use of fireworks can be a significant nuisance to humans, pets and wildlife.
