Agenda Item No: P.1
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: May 26, 2026
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: David Gassaway, City Manager
SUBJECT: Ordinance 2026-03 PD Amending Chapter 8, Article I, Section 8.3, Chapter 56 of the Fairfield Municipal Code Regarding Explosives and Fireworks
Amending Chapter 8, Article I, Section 8.3, Chapter 56 of the Municipal Code Regarding Explosives and Fireworks in the City of Fairfield
Funding Source: N/A
Contact: Dan Marshall, (707) 428-7374
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Hold public hearing; waive full reading, read by title only and introduce ordinance for first reading.
STATEMENT OF ISSUE
The City of Fairfield continues to face significant fire and public safety risks from illegal fireworks, especially during the Fourth of July a nd New Year’s Eve. Despite an existing prohibition, the current ordinance lacks clear definitions, enforcement provisions, and property -owner accountability, limiting its effectiveness. A targeted revision of the ordinance is necessary to close these gaps and support modern enforcement tools, including drone-based response, in order to better deter illegal fireworks use and protect community safety.
DISCUSSION
The City of Fairfield has faced a significant and ongoing threat from wildland and residential fires, placing lives, property, and critical infrastructure at risk. This threat is substantially heightened during peak holidays, particularly the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve. During these periods, data consistently shows a significant increase in public safety calls for service and 911 calls related to fireworks and unsafe fire activity. These spikes are largely attributed to the widespread use, ignition, and detonation of fireworks that are currently deemed illegal under existing city ordinance.
While the Fairfield Municipal Code addressing explosives and fireworks establishes that fireworks are prohibited, it lacks the specificity and enforcement mechanisms necessary to effectively mitigate this persistent issue. The ordinance does not provide a comprehensive definition of what constitutes “fireworks,” creating ambiguity that limits enforceability. Additionally, the current code fails to hold property owners or responsible parties accountable for permitting the use of illegal fireworks on their pr operty or in adjacent public areas. This gap significantly undermines deterrence efforts and complicates enforcement actions.
As a result, illegal fireworks continue to pose a serious and preventable threat to public safety, contributing to increased fire risk, strain on emergency services, and disruption to the community.
Historically, the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve have seen the highest call volumes for both police and fire services, driven largely by fireworks -related incidents. Over the years, these incidents have also resulted in significant injuries to community members. Most notably, last year an individual suffered the traumatic loss of a hand due to the use of illegal fireworks, underscoring the very real and severe dangers associated with their use.
As the City enters the summer months, the risk posed by fireworks increases substantially, particularly in relation to fire hazards.
In January 2026, the Fairfield Police Department implemented a Real Time Intelligence Center, incorporating drones as first responders to enhance situational awareness and rapid response capabilities. While this technology provides a valuable tool for detection and response, its effectiveness is limited without a strengthened legal framework to support enforcemen t and accountability related to this ordinance.
Combined with the deployment of drones as first responders, a strengthened ordinance will enable the City to quickly and effectively identify individuals who endanger the community through unlawful fireworks use and hold property owners accountable through administrative citations. Drones equipped with advanced imaging capabilities allow operators to pinpoint the origin of fireworks activity and, through integrated mapping and address identification technology, accurately determine the property from which the fireworks were ignited or detonated.
Accordingly, there is a clear need for a revised and more comprehensive ordinance that:
Clearly defines prohibited fireworks and related activities Establishes accountability for property owners and responsible parties Strengthens enforcement provisions to deter illegal use
This ordinance has been drafted as a comprehensive public safety measure and is fully supported by the Fire Department. Its development reflects a coordinated, multi -agency approach to addressing the significant risks posed by illegal fireworks, with the shared goal of protecting life, property, and community well-being.
Enhancing the municipal code in alignment with modern enforcement capabilities will better protect the community, reduce fire risk, and ensure a safer environment for all residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
N/A
PUBLIC CONTACT/ADVISORY BODY RECOMMENDATION
N/A
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
The council may choose not to adopt the attached ordinance.
COORDINATED WITH
City Attorney’s Office and Fire Department
STAFF CONTACT
Derrick Fok, Police Sergeant
(707) 399-7368
[email protected]
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 2: Proposed Ordinance
Attachment 3: Exhibit A – Chapter 8 Fire Protection