Maryville restricts fireworks sales, Fourth of July dates remain unchanged

Maryville has become the second local city to restrict fireworks regulations with less than two months before Fourth of July Celebrations begin. City council members passed a second reading of an ordinance Tuesday, May 7 that eliminates access for minors and removes an allowance for public fireworks displays.

Shooting fireworks from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 3 and 4 will still be legal.

Both Maryville and neighboring Alcoa have spent months discussing new fireworks regulations after numerous complaints from residents citing noise and misuse. In Alcoa, police officers reported having fireworks thrown at their cars, and one officer’s uniform was burned when someone tossed an explosive at them.

Fireworks also allegedly caused thousands of dollars in damages to one home.

Maryville has worked through the years to keep its fireworks regulations close to Alcoa’s for continuity; this year is no exception. Alcoa officials passed their ordinance in March, opting to reduce the window for sale and raise the age to buy pyrotechnics to 18. Alcoa has also required vendors to check IDs and post signage advertising the legal hours to shoot fireworks in city limits.

In Maryville, officials have mirrored the age requirement, setting the same period for sale from June 25 to July 4.

Council members voted 3-1 in favor of the ordinance, with Council Member Sarah Herron providing the only nay. Drew Miles was absent.

Herron said she voted against the ordinance because she felt smoke from fireworks would be dangerous due to the closer population density of Maryville. In previous council discussions of potential regulations, she has voiced concerns over the dangers smoke could pose to people with breathing difficulties.

On Tuesday, she thanked city staff for their time drafting the ordinance but told her fellow council members she felt the city needed a total ban. New kinds of fireworks, she said, put out more smoke than previous years and posed health issues.

Hers was the only comment during the session.

Outside sales, the ordinance establishes a $500 permit rate for vendors registered in Maryville with the Tennessee Department of Revenue. Vendors who don’t register with TDR can obtain a transient vendor license and purchase permits for $4,000 per location.

Using fireworks is only permitted on private property, which means public streets, roads and sidewalks are off limits — something council members have said will require increased policing and steady education to enforce.