The Greene County supervisors on Tuesday discussed fireworks permits in light of Senate File 489, which legalizes the sale of fireworks in Iowa, but there was no mention of exercising their right to regulate the use of fireworks in the county.
SF 489 was signed by Gov Terry Branstad May 9. The bill allows the sale of consumer fireworks from June 1 through July 8 and from Dec. 10 to Jan. 3 in permanent buildings, and from June 13 to July 8 in tents.
That doesn’t mean it’s legal to use fireworks anywhere in the state. The bill allows county boards of supervisors and city councils to prohibit or limit the use of consumer fireworks or display fireworks if the board determines that the use of such devices would constitute a threat to public safety or private property, or if the board determines that the use of such devices would constitute a nuisance to neighboring landowners.
In past years, residents who purchased fireworks in other states could use them after obtaining a permit from the county. The Greene County supervisors typically approved a dozen or more permits each year. The permit requests were initiated in the auditor’s office.
By consensus, the supervisors asked auditor Jane Heun to direct any questions about permits to the law enforcement center. There, the intended date, time and location of fireworks will be noted as a courtesy to law enforcement.
There was no mention by the supervisors of exercising their right to control the use of fireworks.
