[Amended 7-27-2021]
Except as provided in this article or applicable state law, no person, firm or corporation shall offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at retail or use or explode or possess with intent to sell, use or explode any fireworks, as defined in the Connecticut General Statutes, in the City of Norwalk. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person who is 16 years of age or older may offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at retail, purchase, use or possess with intent to sell or use sparklers or fountains, as defined in and to the extent provided in the Connecticut General Statutes.
A. 
Pursuant to the Connecticut General Statutes and the Fire Safety Code, all mercantile establishments, businesses and/or properly permitted events shall undergo periodic inspections by the Fire Marshal. The owner, designee or legal occupant shall provide the Fire Marshal with access to the mercantile establishments, businesses and/or properly permitted events to complete the inspection to ensure that the requirements specified in the Connecticut General Statutes and the Fire Safety Code have been satisfied. The Fire Marshal shall also have the right to inspect any mercantile establishment, business and/or properly permitted event at any time for the purpose of satisfying themselves that such mercantile establishment, business and/or properly permitted event are in compliance with all pertinent statutes and regulations.
B. 
An owner, designee or legal occupant must schedule an inspection with the Fire Marshal within the time period mandated by the Connecticut General Statutes and the Fire Safety Code. If the owner, designee or legal occupant schedules and completes an inspection within such time period, then the Fire Marshal shall not charge the owner, designee or legal occupant a fee. However, if the owner, designee or legal occupant fails to schedule and complete the inspection within such time period, then the Fire Marshal shall send a letter to the owner, designee or legal occupant advising that the inspection is delinquent. The owner, designee or legal occupant shall have 10 days from the date of the such letter to schedule and complete the inspection. If the inspection is not completed within such ten-day period, then the Fire Marshal shall charge the owner, designee or legal occupant an amount as established in the Office of the Fire Marshal's schedule of fees for permits and licenses.
C. 
Duration of inspection. The duration and scope of an inspection shall be based upon the Connecticut General Statutes and the Fire Safety Code.
D. 
Penalty for offenses. Any person violating this section shall be subject to the following penalties:
(1) 
An owner, designee or legal occupant that fails to complete an inspection in a timely manner, as prescribed in the Connecticut General Statutes and the Fire Safety Code shall be subject to an initial fine as established in the Office of the Fire Marshal's schedule of fees;
(2) 
Each day that the violation exists shall constitute a separate violation; and
(3) 
Following the initial violation, each subsequent day that the violation exists shall be subject to a fine as established in the Office of the Fire Marshal's schedule of fees.
The provisions of the preceding section shall not apply to the use of such fireworks by a person who has obtained from the Chief of the Fire Department a license for that purpose. Each such license shall:
A. 
Issue for exhibition purposes only and only to one skilled in the discharging of fireworks;
B. 
Expire not later than 30 days from the date of issue;
C. 
Bear the date of expiration on the face thereof;
D. 
Designate the location for which it is granted;
E. 
Not be transferable; and
F. 
Only be issued after inspection of the premises by the licensing authority and after the applicant has given satisfactory evidence of financial responsibility, by way of a certificate of insurance, to satisfy any claim for public liability arising from the use of fireworks or from the use of pyrotechnics for special effects in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 per accident for bodily injury and property damage, and shall not limit coverage within the applicable statutory period of covered liability.
The license fee to be paid to the City shall be established by the Office of the Fire Marshal's schedule of fees for permits and licenses for each exhibition.
No such license shall be issued for any location within 200 feet of any combustible building, nor unless provision has been made to keep spectators and all other individuals except the agents and employees of the licensee at least 200 feet distant from the licensed location, nor when the Fire Chief shall determine that any condition exists which makes exhibitions of fireworks at such location unusually hazardous.
All fireworks displays shall be concluded promptly by 10:00 p.m.
Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the storage, sale or use of signals necessary for the safe operation of railroads or other classes of public or private transportation, nor as applying to the military or naval forces of the United States or to the authorized militia of the state or to peace officers.
The provisions hereof shall not apply to the retail sale or use of cap pistols and repeater cap pistols and caps to be used therein.