[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Penn as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 8-21-2006 by Ord. No. 825]
It shall be unlawful for any person, persons, firms or corporations, amusement parks, fair associations or other organizations or groups of individuals to have or to hold public displays of fireworks within the limits of the Township of Penn, unless a permit therefor is granted by the Board of Commissioners of said Township, as hereinafter provided.
Every such display within the limits of said Township shall be handled by a competent operator, and which display shall be of such character and so located, discharged or fired as, in the opinion of the Board of Commissioners, or its duly authorized representative, after proper inspection, shall not be hazardous to property or endanger any person or persons.
Application for permits shall be made in writing to the Township Manager at least 30 days in advance of the date of display, setting forth the proposed location of the display, the character thereof, name and address of the operator, and the name and address of the owner or owners of the grounds on which the display is to be held, with the consent of such owner or owners thereto in writing attached. All applicants shall submit to the Township of Penn a permit fee, which shall be established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Penn. In addition to said fee, a permit shall not be issued until proof of liability insurance, required by § 84-5, is presented to the Township of Penn.
If and after such permit shall have been granted by Township Commissioners or designee, possession, sale, use and distribution of fireworks for such display shall be lawful for that purpose only. No permit granted hereunder shall be transferable.
The Board of Commissioners of the Township of Penn shall require liability insurance. A certificate of insurance shall be filed with the Township Manager before a permit may be issued. Said certificate of insurance shall be in an amount of $1,000,000 or greater, which shall insure the payment of damages caused to any person or persons, and to any property of any person or persons by reason of the license display, and arising from any acts of the licensee, its agents, employees or subcontractors.
If by reason of unfavorable weather the display for which a permit has been granted does not take place at the time so authorized, the person to whom such permit was issued may, within 72 hours, apply to the authority having granted the same, setting forth under oath the fact that such display was not made, giving the reason therefor, and requesting a continuance of such permit for a day designated therein, not later than one week after the day fixed originally in said permit. Upon receiving such application for a continuance, the Township, if it believes the facts stated therein are true, shall extend the provisions of said permit to the day fixed in said application, not later than one week after the original day designated in the permit, and such extension of time shall be granted without the payment of any additional fee and without requiring any bond other than the one given for the original permit, the provisions of which shall extend to and cover all damages which may be caused by reason of said display taking place at such extended date in the same manner and to the same extent as if such display had taken place at the date originally fixed in the permit.
Any person, copartnership, association or corporation violating the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $300 or, in the case of individuals, the members of a partnership or corporation, by imprisonment not exceeding 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
[Adopted 11-20-2019 by Ord. No. 933]
The Board of Commissioners of the Township of Penn has determined that it is in the best interests of the Township that the use, sale, and possession of fireworks within the Township be regulated. The Board of Commissioners recognizes that the possession, sale, and use of fireworks, even those which are legal, if left unregulated, can create problems which can have a detrimental impact on the health, safety, and welfare of the community.
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation, administration, and enforcement of this article:
ACT 43
An act, signed into law October 30, 2017, amending the Act of March 4, 1971 (P.L. 6, No. 2), known as the "Tax Reform Code."
APA 87-1
The American Pyrotechnics Association Standard 87-1: Standard for Construction and Approval for Transportation of Fireworks, Novelties, and Theatrical Pyrotechnics, 2001 edition.
CONSUMER FIREWORKS
A. 
Any combustible or explosive composition or any substance or combination of substances which is intended to produce visible or audible effects by combustion, is suitable for use by the public, complies with the construction, performance, composition and labeling requirements promulgated by the Consumer Products Safety Commission in 16 CFR (relating to commercial practices) or any successor regulation and complies with the provisions for "consumer fireworks" as defined in APA 87-1 or any successor standard, the sale, possession and use of which shall be permitted throughout this commonwealth.
B. 
The term does not include devices as "ground and hand-held sparkling devices," "novelties" or "toy caps" in APA 87-1 or any successor standard, the sale, possession and use of which shall be permitted at all times throughout this commonwealth.
DISPLAY FIREWORKS
Large fireworks to be used solely by professional pyrotechnicians and designed primarily to produce visible or audible effects by combustion, deflagration or detonation. The term includes, but is not limited to:
A. 
Salutes that contain more than two grains or 130 milligrams of explosive materials;
B. 
Aerial shells containing more than 60 grams of pyrotechnic compositions; and
C. 
Other display pieces that exceed the limits of explosive materials for classification as consumer fireworks and are classified as fireworks UN0333, UN0334 or UN0335 under 49 CFR 172.101 (relating to purpose and use of hazardous materials table).
OCCUPIED STRUCTURE
A structure, vehicle or place adapted for overnight accommodation of persons or for conducting business, whether or not a person is actually present.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Penn, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
TOWNSHIP FIRE CHIEFS
The Township of Penn Volunteer Fire Chiefs.
The manufacture of fireworks is prohibited within the Township. The sale or offering for sale of display fireworks is prohibited within the Township. The sale or possession of consumer fireworks is permitted pursuant to this article. The display or discharge of consumer or display fireworks shall comply with the requirements of Act 43, the provisions of this article and the provisions of the International Fire Code, 2009 edition, as amended, supplemented or replaced, implemented by the Uniform Construction Code (Chapter 5, Part 1 ).
See the existing Township ordinance.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Art. I, Permits, of this chapter.
A. 
Conditions. A person who is at least 18 years of age and meets the requirements of this section may purchase, possess, and use consumer fireworks. A person under 18 years of age may intentionally ignite or discharge consumer fireworks only when under the direct supervision of a parent, guardian, or responsible adult acting in loco parentis.
B. 
Prohibitions. A person may not intentionally ignite or discharge:
(1) 
Consumer fireworks on public or private property without the express permission of the property owner.
(2) 
Consumer fireworks or sparkling devices within, or throw consumer fireworks or sparkling devices from, a motor vehicle or building.
(3) 
Consumer fireworks or sparkling devices into or at a motor vehicle, building, or another person.
(4) 
Consumer fireworks or sparkling devices while the person is under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or another drug.
(5) 
Consumer fireworks within 150 feet of an occupied structure.
(6) 
Consumer fireworks between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. between January 2 and December 31.
(7) 
Consumer fireworks between the hours of 12:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on January 1.
A. 
No display fireworks shall be ignited without a permit issued by the Township as per the existing Township display fireworks permit ordinance.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Art. I, Permits, of this chapter.
B. 
No display fireworks shall be ignited within 300 feet of a facility that meets the requirements of Sections 2407 and 2410 (relating to permanent and temporary sales locations) of Pennsylvania Act 43 of 2017.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See 72 P.S. §§ 9407 and 9410.
A. 
A person using consumer fireworks in violation of the provisions of this article commits a summary offense and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000 for each violation or, alternatively, sentenced to pay a fine of not more than the maximum permitted under Pennsylvania law as the same may be from time to time amended and in effect as of the date of conviction, plus costs for each such violation. Each day or portion thereof in which a violation exists shall be considered a separate violation of this article. Each provision of this article which is violated shall be considered a separate violation. Such fine shall be in addition to any other fine which may be imposed under the provisions of any other ordinances of the Township, Pennsylvania law, or federal law. In default of payment of any fine, such person shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than 30 days.
B. 
A person using display fireworks in violation of the provisions of this article commits a summary offense and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $600 and not more than $1,000 for each violation or, alternatively, sentenced to pay a fine of not more than the maximum permitted under Pennsylvania law as the same may be from time to time amended and in effect as of the date of conviction, plus costs for each such violation. Each day or portion thereof in which a violation exists shall be considered a separate violation of this article. Each provision of this article which is violated shall be considered a separate violation. Such fine shall be in addition to any other fine which may be imposed under the provisions of any other ordinances of the Township, Pennsylvania law, or federal law. In default of payment of any fine, such person shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than 30 days.
C. 
Any person who or which violates or fails to comply with any other provision of this article shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $300 and not more than $1,000 for each violation or, alternatively, sentenced to pay a fine of not more than the maximum permitted under Pennsylvania law as the same may be from time to time amended and in effect as of the date of conviction, plus costs for each such violation. Each day or portion thereof in which a violation exists shall be considered a separate violation of this article. Each provision of this article which is violated shall be considered a separate violation. Such fine shall be in addition to any other fine which may be imposed under the provisions of any other ordinances of the Township, Pennsylvania law, or federal law. In default of payment of any fine, such person shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than 30 days.
D. 
The improper storage, sale, or use of consumer or display fireworks may be prosecuted under state and/or federal regulations.
The Pennsylvania State Police or a Township police officer may seize, remove, or cause to be removed at the expense of the owner all stocks of consumer fireworks or display fireworks or combustibles offered or exposed for sale, stored, or held in violation of this article. The owner shall also be responsible for the storage and, if deemed necessary, the destruction of these fireworks.
In all other respects, all ordinances of the Township shall remain as previously enacted and ordained.
In addition to or in lieu of the penalties provided in § 84-14 hereof, any violations of the provisions of this article may be abated or enforced by proceedings seeking equitable relief against the violator.
If any provision of this article shall be determined to be unlawful, invalid, void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be considered severable from the remaining provisions which shall continue in full force and effect.
Any ordinance or part of ordinance conflicting with the provisions of this article are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict.
This article shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.