To report illegal fireworks in Sacramento County, call the agency that patrols your address. In unincorporated areas, that’s the Sheriff’s non-emergency line at 916-874-5115 or the email reportfireworks@saccounty.gov.1Sacramento County. Know the Risks! Keep it Safe, Keep it Legal This 4th of July If you live in an incorporated city like Sacramento, Elk Grove, or Citrus Heights, use your city’s dedicated number instead. The wrong agency can’t dispatch to your neighborhood, so getting the jurisdiction right is the first step.
Where to Report by Jurisdiction
Sacramento County contains several incorporated cities, and each runs its own reporting channel.2Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District. Report Dangerous Fireworks Match your location to the line below.
- Unincorporated Sacramento County: 916-874-5115 or reportfireworks@saccounty.gov
- City of Sacramento: 916-808-FIRE (3473) or the Sacramento Fire Department app
- Elk Grove: 916-714-5115
- Rancho Cordova: 916-362-5115 or the Rancho Cordova Connect app
- Citrus Heights: 916-727-5500 or seeclickfix.com/citrusheights
- Folsom: 916-355-7231 or fireworks@folsom.ca.us
- Galt: 209-366-7000
Not sure which jurisdiction you’re in? Dial 3-1-1 and the operator will route you.3Sacramento County. How to Report Illegal Fireworks in Sacramento County
Save 911 for real emergencies: a fire that has already started, an injury, or an immediate threat to life or property. Around the Fourth of July, the non-emergency lines and reporting apps exist so that 911 stays open for genuine emergencies.
What Counts as Illegal
Anything that flies, travels along the ground, or explodes is illegal in Sacramento County. That covers skyrockets, Roman candles, firecrackers, and aerial shells.4Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District. Dangerous Fireworks M-80s, cherry bombs, and aerial bombs are banned at the federal level by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, as is any firecracker containing more than 50 milligrams of pyrotechnic composition.5eCFR. 16 CFR 1500.17 – Banned Hazardous Substances
The only consumer fireworks legal for personal use anywhere in California are those labeled “Safe and Sane.” Every package must carry the State Fire Marshal’s classification label and registration number.6California Legislative Information. California Code HSC – Division 11 Part 2 Chapter 9 Remedies Without that label, treat the device as illegal. And even Safe and Sane fireworks are restricted to a short window around the Fourth of July in unincorporated County areas; outside that window, they’re illegal too. Rules in the incorporated cities vary, and some ban all fireworks outright, so check your city if you’re unsure whether what you’re seeing is actually against the rules.
Details to Have Ready When You Call
A specific report is far more useful than a vague one. Before you call or email, try to note:
- The location: street address, nearest cross streets, or a landmark someone unfamiliar with the block could find.
- The date and time, and whether the activity is still happening.
- The type of firework: aerial, ground-based, or explosive. Color and approximate height help.
- How many people are involved and where they’re lighting from (yard, street, parking lot).
- Any vehicles connected to the activity, including make, model, color, and plate if visible.
Watch from a safe distance. Don’t approach the people involved, and don’t try to confiscate anything. The point of reporting is to hand the situation to responders trained for it.
What Happens After You Report
Non-emergency reports don’t always draw an immediate response, especially on July 4 when complaints pour in within a few hours. By the time a unit arrives, the people lighting the fireworks may already have left. That doesn’t mean the report was wasted.
Agencies use complaint data to map recurring problem areas, and that mapping shapes where they station officers and run proactive patrols the following year. Consistent reports from a neighborhood tend to bring more enforcement presence over time. A report also creates a written record that can support administrative fines if a repeat offender is later identified.
Fines the Offender May Face
Sacramento County’s Board of Supervisors amended its fireworks ordinance in 2026 to toughen penalties. Under the earlier ordinance, fines started at $1,000 for a first violation, $2,500 for a second, and $5,000 for each additional violation, with a $10,000 fine for violations in the American River Parkway, parks, or school property. The amended ordinance applies fines per individual illegal firework used, and for each separate instance of using Safe and Sane fireworks outside the permitted window.7Sacramento County. Board Approves Amendment to Fireworks Ordinance Someone lighting a dozen bottle rockets can face a dozen separate fines rather than a single flat penalty.
State law adds criminal exposure on top of local fines. Selling or giving dangerous fireworks to anyone under 18 is a misdemeanor, and a second conviction carries up to one year in county jail and an additional $10,000 fine with no option for probation.8California Legislative Information. California Code HSC 12702 Any law enforcement or fire agency in California can seize dangerous fireworks found without proper permits or labeling.6California Legislative Information. California Code HSC – Division 11 Part 2 Chapter 9 Remedies