May 26, 2026
City Council
DATE: May 26, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Councilmember Cesar Zepeda
Councilmember Jamelia Brown (co-sponsor)
Councilmember Soheila Bana (co-sponsor)
Subject:
Consider Amending Richmond Municipal Code Chapter
11.05 entitled “Fireworks”
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The fiscal impact is currently undetermined pending further analysis.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
July 22, 2021
September 20, 2011
November 2, 2021
November 16, 2021
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Fireworks have been a constant danger to our
community in the City of Richmond. City Council needs to amend our ordinance to discourage and disincentivize
people from using fireworks.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
REQUEST the city attorney and the city manager to
make recommendations and propose amendments to
Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 11.05 of the
Fireworks Ordinance that extends liability to hosts and increases administrative penalties and return to City
Council for proposed recommendations within 90 days -
Councilmember Cesar Zepeda (510-620-6593),
Councilmember Jamelia Brown (510-609-5780), and
Councilmember Soheila Bana (510-672-5242).
AGENDA
REPORT
May 26, 2026
DISCUSSION:
The neighboring City of San Pablo has updated its fireworks ordinance to discourage people from using fireworks. Due to their ordinance being stricter than the current Richmond fireworks ordinance, it could encourage people to come to Richmond to discharge their fireworks since our current ordinance lacks the same penalty structure.
The City needs a similar ordinance to discourage people from discharging illegal fireworks within the City boundaries.
This agenda item directs the City Attorney and City Manager to study other ordinances and make recommendations for consideration of possible ordinance amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 11.05.
Suggested amendments may include adding “Social Host Liability” and administrative penalties:
(1) Extend liability to “Hosts”:
Although the City Attorney’s Office and staff will need to evaluate this further, San Pablo has a “Social Host Liability” provision that is below:
It will be public nuisance for any property owner or person in control of property to allow any person to sell, possess, ignite, explode, project or otherwise fire or make use of fireworks on the property owned by such person, or on property or at an event under the control of such person, irrespective of whether the property owner or person in control of the property or event had the intent or knowledge of such violation or otherwise acted negligently. Such violation is expressly declared a strict liability offense. A property owner or person in control of the property or event is not in violation if they seek immediate assistance from the City's Police Department or the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District to prevent or stop violation of the Code.
The City of Richmond may consider something similar with respect to adding Social Host Liability to Chapter 11.05.
(1) Add Administrative Penalties:
Another suggested policy change to the current ordinance is to add administrative penalties similar to those in effect in San Pablo. For instance, the first offense is a $1,000 administrative citation (per discharge), and the second and subsequent offenses within the same 1-year period are a $2,500 administrative citation (per discharge). The City Attorney and City Manager should also provide recommendations regarding potential additional reimbursement of public safety personnel costs.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – San Pablo - Fireworks Ordinance
May 26, 2026
Attachment 2 – 11.02.2021 Intro an ordinance first reading Amendments to Fireworks redlines Attachment 3 – 11.02.2021 Intro an ordinance first reading Amendments to Fireworks clean Attachment 4 – 11.16.2021 Into an ordinance first reading Amendments to Fireworks Ordinance redlines
Attachment 5 – 11.16.2021 Introduce an ordinance first reading Amendments to Fireworks Ordinance clean