ATLANTA — We are less than 24 hours away from the end of 2025 and the night is expected to pop off.
We’ve got the Atlanta Peach Drop, parties galore and of course everyone’s favorite way to celebrate: fireworks.
In Georgia, before you can really launch the new year off with a bang, there are some things to know for safely, and legally, letting sparks and sparklers fly.
According to state law, fireworks can be used any day of the week from 10 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., but on special holidays, like this weekend’s New Year’s Eve, the launch times are extended. While you can shoot fireworks pretty much all day, statutes do leave a carve-out for compliance with any county or municipal ordinances.
For NYE fun, you can let the fireworks fly until 1 a.m. on New Year’s Day.
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So, what are you actually allowed to launch?
Plenty of things, but not necessarily everything you can think of.
According to Georgia law, you can fire off:
- Firecrackers
- Torpedos
- Skyrockets
- Bombs
- Sparklers
- Any other explosive substance with a visible or audible effect caused by combustion
Georgia law says model rockets and model rocket engines do not count as fireworks.
In addition to rules about what you can use as fireworks, there are also rules about, who, where and when.
It’s illegal to launch fireworks while under the influence of alcohol or a combination of drugs and alcohol.
You also can’t launch fireworks within 100 yards (that’s 300 feet) away from:
- Electric plant
- Water treatment plant
- Waste-water treatment plant
- Anywhere selling gasoline or combustible liquids
- Anywhere producing, refining, processing, or blending flammable or combustible liquids or gases
- Public or private electric substations
- Jails or prisons
- Boundaries of any public-use air facility or public-use landing platform for use by helicopters
- Any historic site, park, recreational area, or property owned by a governing authority of a county or municipal corporation, or the state of Georgia
- Hospitals, nursing homes, or health care facilities
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