City of Exeter amends fireworks policy
April 17, 2019
Vinnie Roberts
During a city council meeting on Wednesday, April 10, Exeter City Council voted to amend a city ordinance related to the sale and discharge of fireworks within city limits.
Previously, the ordinance only allowed for one fireworks seller in town during acceptable sales periods, with an added stipulation that the seller be a non-profit. Sales were also previously allowed to run from sunrise until midnight on July 5.
A significant portion of the fireworks ordinance remains unchanged. Currently, fireworks are still only allowed to be sold within city limits up to three weeks before July 4. Fireworks are also only allowed to be detonated in city limits on July 3, 4 and 5. During these days, fireworks can be discharged from sunrise to midnight.
With this new change, passed unanimously during the council meeting, the city will now allow up to two sellers within city limits. Additionally, the amendment removes the wording of the ordinance that only allowed non-profits to operate fireworks sales.
The council also voted to change the window in which fireworks can be sold, moving the end of sales from midnight on July 5 to midnight on July 6. Fireworks sales within the town are allowed to begin up to three weeks before July 4.
According to Exeter city clerk Myrna Eisenbraun, the primary reason for this change is to allow the city to benefit from sales tax revenue that these stands would generate for the city. The city currently receives a standard 1 cent local sales tax on goods sold within city limits.
The amendment to the ordinance is effective immediately, meaning that the city has the potential to play host to fireworks sales during this year’s Fourth of July season. According to Eisenbraun, the city has not currently received any final offers from fireworks seller at this time. The license from city hall would be a standard business license, costing the seller $5.
Vinnie Roberts
During a city council meeting on Wednesday, April 10, Exeter City Council voted to amend a city ordinance related to the sale and discharge of fireworks within city limits.
Previously, the ordinance only allowed for one fireworks seller in town during acceptable sales periods, with an added stipulation that the seller be a non-profit. Sales were also previously allowed to run from sunrise until midnight on July 5.
A significant portion of the fireworks ordinance remains unchanged. Currently, fireworks are still only allowed to be sold within city limits up to three weeks before July 4. Fireworks are also only allowed to be detonated in city limits on July 3, 4 and 5. During these days, fireworks can be discharged from sunrise to midnight.
With this new change, passed unanimously during the council meeting, the city will now allow up to two sellers within city limits. Additionally, the amendment removes the wording of the ordinance that only allowed non-profits to operate fireworks sales.
The council also voted to change the window in which fireworks can be sold, moving the end of sales from midnight on July 5 to midnight on July 6. Fireworks sales within the town are allowed to begin up to three weeks before July 4.
According to Exeter city clerk Myrna Eisenbraun, the primary reason for this change is to allow the city to benefit from sales tax revenue that these stands would generate for the city. The city currently receives a standard 1 cent local sales tax on goods sold within city limits.
The amendment to the ordinance is effective immediately, meaning that the city has the potential to play host to fireworks sales during this year’s Fourth of July season. According to Eisenbraun, the city has not currently received any final offers from fireworks seller at this time. The license from city hall would be a standard business license, costing the seller $5.