[A.O.]
It is the intent of the Board of Supervisors of Solebury Township 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.
[A.O.]
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 FIREWORKS
Defined as provided in 27 CFR 555.11, as amended.
[A.O.]
1. 
The use of fireworks, whether consumer fireworks, display fireworks or other types of fireworks, shall be strictly prohibited at any location within 200 feet of any structure, property line, vehicle or roadway unless prior written permission is received from all property owners within the two-hundred-foot area and prior approval by the Township.
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.
[A.O.]
1. 
Unlawful to Use 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 Township of Solebury, unless a permit therefor is first granted by Solebury Township, as hereinafter provided.
2. 
Compliance with State and Federal Statutes and Regulations. The applicant for a permit to display fireworks within this Township 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 35 P.S. § 1271 et seq., as amended. 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.
3. 
Competent Operator and Safe Display Location. Every such fireworks display within the limits of the Township shall be handled, arranged, managed and directly supervised by a competent operator. Every such fireworks use and display within the Township 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 Board of Supervisors, or their 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 Township, 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 Township, 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 Township 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 competent operator, 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 Township the appropriate reasonable permit fee identified in the Township's duly enacted fee schedule resolution before the issuance of a permit and shall further provide proof of liability insurance, acceptable to the Township, and the required bond to the Township. The Township Board of Supervisors 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 Township Board of Supervisors or an authorized 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.
5. 
Bond Required. The Board of Supervisors of the Township of Solebury shall require a bond deemed adequate by the Board of Supervisors from the applicant, permittee or licensee in an amount deemed appropriate by the Board of Supervisors. The bond amount shall be no less than $1,000,000, and shall be provided for the payment of any and all damages caused to any person or persons, and to any property by reason of the fireworks display and arising from any acts of the licensee, his or its agents, employees, subcontractors or volunteers. The bond shall be in a form acceptable to the Township and no permit for a fireworks display shall be issued unless an acceptable bond is received by the Township.
6. 
Liability Insurance. The Board of Supervisors of the Township of Solebury shall require liability insurance deemed adequate by the Board of Supervisors from the applicant, permittee or licensee in an amount deemed appropriate by the Board of Supervisors. The liability insurance amount shall be no less than $2,000,000, and shall list Solebury Township, the Board of Supervisors, individually and collectively, the Township employees, agents and consultants as additional insureds. The liability insurance shall be in a form acceptable to the Township and no permit for a fireworks display shall be issued unless an acceptable certificate of insurance evidencing the required coverage is received by the Township.
7. 
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 Township, 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 Township, 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.
[A.O.]
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 Township, the Pennsylvania State Police, Solebury Township Police, Fire Chief of the fire company responsible for fire protection at the place of the event or the appropriate Township designee, or any other authorized Township 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.
[A.O.]
Any person, individual, partnership, copartnership, association or corporation violating the provisions of this part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a magisterial district judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this part continues or each section of this part which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.
[Ord. No. 2025-003, 2/18/2025]
That certain document, three copies of which are on file in the office of the Fire Marshal of the Township of Solebury, being marked and designated as the International Fire Code, 2018 Edition, including Appendix chapters being adopted (A, B, C, D, F, H, I, J), as published by the International Code Council, be and is hereby adopted as the Fire Code of the Township of Solebury in the State of Pennsylvania, regulating and governing the safeguarding of life and property from fire and explosion hazards arising from the storage, handling and use of hazardous substances, materials and devices, and from conditions hazardous to life or property in the occupancy of buildings and premises as herein provided; providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said Fire Code on file in the office of the Township of Solebury are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof, as of fully set out in this Part, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes, if any, prescribed in § 7-202 of this Part.
[Ord. No. 2025-003, 2/18/2025]
1. 
The following sections of the 2018 International Fire Code are hereby revised as follows:
A. 
Section 101.1, "Title." Insert: "Township of Solebury, Bucks County, Pennsylvania."
B. 
Section 110.4, "Violation penalties." Delete Section 110.4. in its entirety and insert in its place the following: "Persons, firms, or corporations who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter, repair or do work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the fire code official, or of a permit or certificate used under provisions of this code, shall be guilty of a summary offense, punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or, in lieu of payment of fine, by imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, or both such fine and imprisonment. Each day that a violation shall continue shall be a separate violation."
C. 
Section 112.4, "Failure to comply." Delete Section 112.4 in its entirety and insert in its place the following: "Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be liable to a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500 per day. Each day that a violation shall continue shall be a separate violation."
D. 
Section 105.6.27, "LP-gas." Delete Section 105.6.27 in its entirety.
E. 
Section 105.6.32, "Open burning." Delete Section 105.6.32 in its entirety.
F. 
Section 105.6.34, "Open flames and candles." Delete Section 105.6.34 in its entirety.
G. 
Section 105.6.37, "Places of assembly." Delete Section 105.6.37 in its entirety.
H. 
Section 105.6.43, "Repair garages and motor fuel-dispensing facilities." Delete Section 105.6.43 in its entirety.
I. 
Section 105.6.47, "Temporary membrane structures and tents." Delete Section 105.6.47 in its entirety.
J. 
Section 105.6.50, "Wood products." Delete Section 105.6.50 in its entirety.
K. 
Section 105.7.22, "Special event structure. "Delete Section 105.7.22 in its entirety.
L. 
Section 105.7.25, "Temporary membrane structures and tents." Delete Section 105.7.25 in its entirety.
M. 
Section 307, "Open Burning, Recreational Fires and Portable Outdoor Fireplaces." Delete Section 307 in its entirety, including all subsections.
N. 
Section 308.1.7, "Religious ceremonies." Delete Section 308.1.7 in its entirety.
O. 
Section 308.1.8, "Flaming food and beverage preparation." Delete Section 308.1.8 in its entirety.
P. 
Section 308.3, "Group A occupancies." Delete Section 308.3 in its entirety.
Q. 
Section 308.4, "Group R occupancies." Delete Section 308.4 in its entirety.
[Ord. No. 2025-003, 2/18/2025]
1. 
This Part shall not apply to new construction that is otherwise regulated or under construction through permits issued under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code and the International Codes which are mandatorily adopted by the Township of Solebury thereunder (collectively the "UCC").
2. 
To the extent of any conflict between the provisions of the UCC (including, without limitation, the International Fire Code to the extent the f?International Fire Code is referenced by the International Building Code), the provisions of the UCC shall apply.
3. 
In all matters that are regulated by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or by regulations of departments or agencies of the commonwealth promulgated by authority of law, such laws or regulations, as the case may be, shall control where the requirements thereof are the same as or in excess of the provisions of this Part. This Part shall control in cases where the state requirements are not as strict as those contained herein.
4. 
Whenever the provisions or requirements of this Part are in conflict with other provisions or requirements of the ordinances of the Township of Solebury, the most restrictive or those imposing the higher standards shall govern except as otherwise provided herein.
[Ord. No. 2025-003, 2/18/2025]
1. 
This Part may be enforced by the Fire Code Official or their designee, and any other person(s) appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
2. 
In addition to the violation penalties set forth in § 7-202, Subsection 1B, of this Part, the Township may institute an action for injunctive relief to prohibit or abate any activity in violation of the provisions of this Part.