Before you bring the boom this 4th of July, take a few minutes to know what you can and can't do if you live in Kentucky.

There's no doubt that fireworks are fun. Depending on how much money you're willing to spend, there's something captivating about colorful explosions. But as entertaining as they are, remember that fireworks are essentially explosives that burn at an extremely high heat  and can cause serious damage if not handled properly. While you want to have fun and celebrate our nation's independence, you also want to make sure you still have all your appendages when the show is over.

Like all states, Kentucky has ordinances in place that spell out the time frame residents are allowed to shoot off their fireworks, as well as restrictions on where those fireworks can be used.

From what I've been able to find online, it seems the Kentucky State Legislature has only defined the differences between consumer and display fireworks (KRS 227.702 and KRS 227.706, respectively), leaving the the terms of how those fireworks are sold and used in the hands of county governments.

Henderson County law states:

(A) Fireworks and Consumer Fireworks must be handled, stored, used, possessed, and sold in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local law.

(B) Fireworks and Consumer Fireworks may only be used, ignited, fired, or exploded between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., except, that they may be used, ignited, fired, or exploded between the hours of 10:00 a.m. on December 31st to midnight on January 1st, and also between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and midnight on the following dates or holidays: July 3rd, July 4th, and Memorial Day.

(C) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, and regardless of the day of the week on which July 4th falls, persons may use, ignite, fire, or explode Fireworks or Consumer Fireworks on any date specifically named or designated by the Henderson County Fiscal Court as the date to celebrate Independence Day for the County, if other than the actual date of July 4th between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and midnight.

(D) No person may use, ignite, fire, or explode any fireworks or Consumer Fireworks as defined in KRS 227.702 (2) and (3) if they are under the age of eighteen (18), or within two hundred (200) feet of any structure, motor vehicle (whether operational or non-operational), or any other person.

Penalties for violating the above ordinances are:

(A) Any person or entity convicted of violating paragraph 4(B) of this ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). Each day a violation occurs shall constitute a separate offense.

(B) Any person or entity convicted of violating any provision of this ordinance other than paragraph 4(B)...shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1000.00), or imprisonment for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days, or both such fine and imprisonment. Each day a violation occurs shall constitute a separate offense.

View the complete ordinance on the Henderson County Council's website.

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