Licence summary
Any person who is employed by, or in business as, a professional organiser or operator
of firework displays, can apply to Falkirk Council for a dispensation from the general
prohibition on using adult fireworks during night hours.
Dispensations can only be granted where the applicant proposes to put on a fireworks
display, or to use fireworks at a national public celebration or national commemorative
event.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must be employed by, or in business as, a professional organiser or operator
of fireworks displays.
An application for a dispensation should be made to Falkirk Council.
Any application for a dispensation must be received by Falkirk Council at least
6 weeks before the proposed event. The application must be made in writing and include:
- the name and address of the applicant
- a description of the proposed fireworks display, national public celebration or
national commemorative event
- details of the fireworks proposed to be used at the event
- the proposed location of the event
- the proposed date or dates and hours during which fireworks will be used at the
event
Successful applicants will be prohibited from using fireworks in terms of the dispensation
unless they give public notice in the prescribed manner of the proposed use no later
than 7 days prior to the commencement of the event.
No fee is payable in terms of an application.
Regulation summary
Application evaluation process
Falkirk Council must have regard to the need to minimise the risk that fireworks
will be used with harmful consequences for people, animals or property, when considering
an application for a dispensation to allow the display of fireworks late at night.
Any application for a dispensation received by Falkirk Council will be processed
as quickly as possible and, in any event, within a period of 2 weeks. This period
will run from the time that all of the required information has been submitted.
Will tacit consent apply?
No. It is in the public interest that Falkirk Council must process your application
before it can be granted.
If you have not heard from us within 28 days, please contact us.
How to apply
To apply for an application for a dispensation from the prohibition on use of fireworks
during night hours you can complete the form below and send it to Falkirk Council
by email or post:
Failed application and licence holder redress
Please contact us in the first instance.
Other redress
For example; complaints about noise, pollution, etc should be directed to the Environmental
Protection Unit.
Any breach of curfew times or rules should be reported to
Police Scotland.
Additional information
Fireworks during night hours
It is illegal to set fireworks off between 11:00pm and 7:00am except in the following
cases.
- November 5: it is permitted to let off fireworks until midnight.
- New Year's Eve, Chinese New Year & Diwali: it is permitted to let off fireworks
until 1:00am on the following day.
The law for purchasing or possessing fireworks
It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to possess adult fireworks in a public
place (category 1 fireworks and sparklers are exempt).
- The age limit for buying adult fireworks or sparklers is 18.
- Category 1 fireworks (caps, cracker snaps, novelty matches, party poppers, serpents,
and throwdowns) must not be supplied to persons under 16.
- You can be fined for letting off fireworks off in a public place. The street outside
is a public place, as is the Council park, the bus station, the schoolyard, the
football stadium or the youth centre.
- It is illegal to break open retail packs of fireworks and sell them individually.
- Any breach of the curfew times or these rules should be reported to
Police Scotland.