April 21, 2026
City Council
DATE: April 21, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Councilmember Claudia Jimenez (sponsor)
Councilmember Sue Wilson (co-sponsor)
Subject:
Letter to Governor Gavin Newsom to Stop the Illicit
Importation of Illegal Fireworks from Nevada
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact on receiving this item.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
For many days leading up to the 4th of July and other
holidays, Richmond residents are being treated to a
cacophony of booms, bangs and amateur dangerous
illegal aerial fireworks displays. Those fireworks
traumatize people and pets, cause injuries and create fire hazards.
Local fire and law enforcement agencies are kept busy
responding nightly to residents’ complaints about these illegal aerial displays and celebratory explosives.
Fireworks are illegal in California and many Nevada
jurisdictions with a few exceptions. Little or nothing is done to stop the interdiction of these illegal, dangerous items into California local jurisdictions, who have become the first and only line of defense” against illegal fireworks
AGENDA
REPORT
April 21, 2026
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution to DIRECT the city clerk to send a
letter to California State Governor Gavin Newsom in
support of developing a task force to explore an interstate compact between California and Nevada to stop the illicit importation of illegal fireworks from Nevada into
California via a shared database of recorded sales -
Councilmembers Claudia Jimenez (510-620-6565) and
Sue Wilson (510-609-2111).
DISCUSSION:
For days leading up to the last 4th of July and other holidays, Californians experienced an unprecedented surge in illegal aerial fireworks displays. Local fire and law enforcement agencies were overwhelmed, responding to nightly complaints about intense and prolonged illegal displays, particularly in communities where fireworks are prohibited.
The ongoing issue of illegal fireworks entering California from Nevada, particularly from stores in Southern Nevada, poses a significant threat to public safety and has led to severe incidents, including explosions and injuries as well severe and substantial strain on state and local budgets. Most informed estimates suggest that these thirteen stores account for at least 65 to 75 percent of the illegal fireworks used in California.
Despite efforts to enhance enforcement strategies for illegal fireworks, the influx from Nevada continues. Thirteen stores in Southern Nevada, including six in Pahrump and seven northeast of Reno, sell federally-approved fireworks that are illegal in California.
These stores, notably Area 51 Fireworks, were implicated in major incidents in Ontario and Los Angeles in 2021. The California Department of Justice and the State Fire Marshal acknowledge the need for a proactive strategy beyond local enforcement.
It is the universal general policy of most, if not all, of these stores to:
Require the purchaser to show their driver’s license which the store scans and downloads.
Require the purchaser to buy a “Shooter’s Permit” and say they are going to take these fireworks to a place out in the middle of nowhere to use them, or sign a form that states they will not use these fireworks in the town where they were purchased and will only take them somewhere where their possession and use are legal. Require the purchaser to state that they are buying these fireworks for personal use only.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Strengthen collaboration between California and Nevada fire and law enforcement agencies
April 21, 2026
2. Increase penalties for individuals and stores involved in facilitating this illegal fireworks trade
3. Implement stricter regulations on the sale and transportation of fireworks across state lines
4. Explore an Interstate Compact or Agreement between California and Nevada to address the illegal fireworks supply chain issue
RECOMMENDATIONS:
RECOMMENDATION #1:
Enhance Cooperation and Information Sharing
Establish a task force comprising fire and law enforcement agencies from California and Nevada to collaboratively address the issue.
Improve communication channels for timely sharing of information on potential illegal activities
IMPACTS:
Fiscal: Requires funding for the task force and enhanced surveillance Operational: Streamlines coordination and improves efficiency Legal: May necessitate amendments to interagency agreements Labor: Increased workload for fire and law enforcement personnel Sociopolitical: Demonstrates a commitment to public safety Policy: May require changes to existing cross-border enforcement policies Health and safety: Improves safety measures through proactive intervention Environmental: Addresses potential environmental hazards associated with illegal fireworks
RECOMMENDATION #2:
Amend Legislation to Increase Penalties
Propose legislative amendments to enhance penalties for individuals and businesses involved in the illegal sale, transportation, or use of fireworks, with a focus on those crossing state lines
IMPACTS:
Fiscal: Requires budget allocation for legal review and legislative processes Operational: May lead to increased legal proceedings
Legal: Requires thorough review of existing legislation Labor: Potential increase in legal proceedings
Sociopolitical: Demonstrates legislative commitment to public safety Policy: May lead to revisions in existing laws
Health and safety: Acts as a deterrent through stricter penalties Environmental: May contribute to reducing environmental risks associated with illegal fireworks
RECOMMENDATION #3:
Explore an Interstate Compact
April 21, 2026
o Initiate discussions between California and Nevada officials to explore an Interstate Compact or an Interstate Agreement between California and Nevada requiring all brick and mortar Nevada fireworks retail store locations to contemporaneously download their records, into a secure website controlled by the State of Nevada, of all sales made to and the items purchase by any individual presenting a valid state ID with a resident address location where the products purchased are not allowed to be possessed or used. o The compact or agreement between the two states would make the State of Nevada’ website accessible to any fire and/or law enforcement agency in the State of Nevada or California and ATF and US DOT.
IMPACTS:
Fiscal: May require initial funding for the development of the secure website Operational: Enhances monitoring and control of out-of-state fireworks sales Legal: Requires legal review for compact creation
Sociopolitical: Demonstrates a commitment to regional cooperation Policy: Establishes a new framework for addressing cross-border issues Health and safety: Proactively addresses the supply chain, reducing illegal fireworks in California
Environmental: Contributes to reducing environmental risks associated with illegal fireworks
If adopted, the resolution expresses support for the California State Governor Gavin Newsom in developing a task force to explore an interstate compact between California and Nevada to stop the illicit importation of illegal fireworks from Nevada into California via a shared database of recorded sales.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – Draft letter to CA Governor Gavin Newsom to Stop Illegal Fireworks Attachment 3 –Illegal Fireworks Whitepaper