[Ord. No. 890, 8/8/2022[1]]
It is the intent of the Council of the Borough of Jefferson Hills to protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public through limiting the use of fireworks. Fireworks by nature contain explosives which when misused can damage property and endanger human life. This Part prohibits the use of display fireworks by the general public but allows for public displays of display fireworks by professional, competent pyrotechnicians in a safe manner. This Part also prohibits all fireworks, whether consumer or display fireworks, within 150 feet of any structure or residential property line or parked vehicles or roadways and from being used or set off within any closed structure or any building or tent.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance was originally adopted as Ch. 115 but was renumbered to maintain the organizational structure of the Code.
[Ord. No. 890, 8/8/2022]
1. 
As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BOROUGH
Borough of Jefferson Hills, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
CONSUMER FIREWORKS
Any combustible or explosive composition, or any substance or combination of substances, intended to produce visible and/or audible effects by combustion and which is suitable for use by the public that complies with the construction, performance, composition and labeling requirements promulgated by the Consumer Products Safety Commission in 16 CFR, as amended, or any successor regulation, and which complies with the provisions for consumer fireworks, as defined in the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) Standard 87-1, as amended, or any successor standard. The term does not include devices such as ground and hand-held sparkling devices and toy caps in APA Standard 87-1, as amended.
DISPLAY
The ignition of fireworks as defined herein.
DISPLAY FIREWORKS
Defined as provided in 27 CFR 555.11, as amended.
FIREWORKS
Both consumer and (commercial grade) display fireworks as defined herein, unless specifically identified as either consumer or display fireworks.
[Ord. No. 890, 8/8/2022]
1. 
The use of fireworks, whether consumer fireworks, display fireworks or other types of fireworks, shall be strictly prohibited at any location within 150 feet of any structure, property line, vehicle or roadway unless prior written permission is received from all property owners within the 150-foot area and prior approval by the Borough. A person may not intentionally ignite or discharge:
A. 
Consumer fireworks or sparkling devices within, or throw consumer fireworks or sparkling devices from, a motor vehicle or building.
B. 
Consumer fireworks or sparkling devices into or at a motor vehicle or building or at another person.
C. 
Consumer fireworks or sparkling devices while the person is under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or another drug.
D. 
Consumer fireworks within 150 feet of an occupied structure.
2. 
The use of fireworks, whether consumer fireworks, display fireworks or other types of fireworks, shall be strictly prohibited within any closed structure or any building or tent.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also 3 Pa.C.S.A. § 1104 (formerly cited as 35 P.S. § 1275; 72 P.S. § 9404).
[Ord. No. 890, 8/8/2022]
1. 
Unlawful to Use or Display Fireworks without a Permit. It shall be unlawful for any person, persons, firms or corporations, amusement parks, fair associations or other organizations or groups of individuals to use and/or hold public displays of display fireworks within the limits of the Borough of Jefferson Hills unless a permit therefor is first granted by Borough of Jefferson Hills, as hereinafter provided.
2. 
Compliance with State and Federal Statutes and Regulations. The applicant for a permit to display fireworks within this Borough must comply with and abide by any and all Pennsylvania and federal statutes and regulations and any and all applicable county or other local regulations governing the use, storage, and display of fireworks, including but not limited to the International Fire Code and 72 P.S. § 9401 et seq., as amended.[1] All Pennsylvania, federal, county and other local laws and regulations are incorporated herein by reference. All regulations relating to the display of fireworks under the International Fire Code and/or Uniform Construction Code are also incorporated herein by reference. In the event of an inconsistency between the aforementioned Pennsylvania, federal, county and other local laws and regulations and this Part, the more stringent regulation shall apply. The applicant must further receive any and all requisite Pennsylvania, federal, county and/or other local permits and/or licenses relating to the proposed fireworks display.
[1]
Editor's Note: See now 3 Pa.C.S.A. § 1101 et seq.
3. 
Professional, competent pyrotechnicians and Safe Display Location. Every such fireworks display within the limits of the Borough shall be handled, arranged, managed and directly supervised by a professional, competent pyrotechnician. Every such fireworks use and display within the Borough shall be of such a character and so located, discharged or fired as not to be hazardous to property or endanger any person or persons in the opinion of the Council's designee, or its duly authorized representative. The Fire Chief of the fire company responsible for fire protection at the place of the event and Fire Code Official, or other such officer as may be designated by the Borough, shall inspect the site where the fireworks are to be used and displayed prior to the issuance of a permit in accordance with the International Fire Code and other applicable regulations and ensure that the site and proposed fireworks display are compliant with said regulations. No permit for the use of fireworks shall be issued until the Fire Chief of the fire company responsible for fire protection at the place of the event, or other such officer as may be designated by the Borough, determines that the requested permit may be granted after inspecting the location for the requested display.
4. 
Permit.
A. 
An application for a permit shall be made in writing to the Borough at least 30 days in advance of the date of the proposed use and display and shall set forth the proposed date, time and location of the use and display, the character and duration thereof, the name and address of the professional, competent pyrotechnician, and the name and address of the owner or owners of the grounds on which the use and display is to be held, together with the written consent of such owner or owners thereto and a copy of any permit application required by the International Fire Code. The application for the permit shall also contain copies of any and all state, federal and/or county permits and/or licenses needed for the use and display of fireworks. All applicants shall pay the Borough the appropriate reasonable permit fee identified in the Borough's duly enacted fee schedule resolution before the issuance of a permit and shall further provide proof of liability insurance, acceptable to the Borough, and the required bond to the Borough. The Borough Council's designee may attach conditions and/or restrictions on any permit for the use and display of fireworks as are deemed necessary.
B. 
If and after such permit is granted by the Borough Council's designee, the possession, use and display of fireworks for the approved display shall be lawful for that purpose, date and time only. No permit granted hereunder shall be transferable.
C. 
No permit for the use and display of fireworks shall be issued to an individual under the age of 18.
D. 
All fireworks displays must end by 10:30 p.m.
5. 
The Council of the Borough of Jefferson Hills shall require liability insurance deemed adequate by the Council from the applicant, permittee or licensee in an amount deemed appropriate by the Council. The liability insurance amount shall be no less than $2,000,000 and shall list Borough of Jefferson Hills, the Council, individually and collectively, the Borough employees, agents and consultants as additional insured. The liability insurance shall be in a form acceptable to the Borough, and no permit for a fireworks display shall be issued unless an acceptable certificate of insurance evidencing the required coverage is received by the Borough.
6. 
Continuance. If by reason of unfavorable weather, the fireworks 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, the following business day, apply to the Borough, and set forth under oath the fact that such use and display was not made, the reason the use and display did not take place, and a request for a continuance of such permit for a day designated therein. The continuance date shall be no later than one week (seven days) after the day fixed originally in said permit. Upon receiving such application for a continuance, the Borough, if it believes the facts stated therein are true, may extend the provisions of said permit to the day fixed in said application, no later than one week (seven days) 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 insurance other than the certificate of insurance given for the original permit, provided that the provisions of the original certificate of insurance extend to and cover all damages which may be caused by reason of said use and display taking place at such extended date in the same manner and to the same extent as if such use and display had taken place at the date originally fixed in the permit.
[Ord. No. 890, 8/8/2022]
1. 
In the event of any violation of this Part or of the terms, conditions or limitations noted on a permit for the display of fireworks, or in the event of any unsafe condition occurring before or during the course of a fireworks display, or in the event of any unsafe condition occurring as a result of any use of consumer, display or other fireworks within the Borough, the Pennsylvania State Police, Borough of Jefferson Hills Police, Fire Chief of the fire company responsible for fire protection at the place of the event or the appropriate Borough designee, or any other authorized Borough representative, may, before or during the unsafe and/or violating occurrence, order such fireworks use or display to be stopped in the interest of public safety.
2. 
The Pennsylvania State Police or Borough of Jefferson Hills Police may take, remove, or cause to be removed at the expense of the owner all stocks of consumer fireworks or display fireworks or combustibles used, stored, or held in violation of this Part. The owner shall also be responsible for the storage and, if deemed necessary, the destruction of these fireworks.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See also 3 Pa.C.S.A. § 1115 (formerly cited as 35 P.S. § 1278; 72 P.S. § 9415).
[Ord. No. 890, 8/8/2022]
Any person, individual, partnership, copartnership, association or corporation violating the provisions of this Part shall be guilty of a summary offense and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $1,000 or by imprisonment not exceeding 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.