Hunter
10/22/26
Iowa City’s City Council is moving forward on shortening the window when residents can shoot off fireworks.
The Press-Citizen reports Iowa City previously banned the use of fireworks within city limits in 2017, after the sale of fireworks were made legal in Iowa. An additonal law passed in 2025 requires all cities to allow fireworks use on certain days.
The current city code allows residents to set off fireworks on the Saturday and Sunday immediately before and after the Fourth of July. The city thought Iowa Code required it to allow their use on those dates, but City Attorney Eric Goers determined that the legal window can be shortened.
The ordinance, which passed its first reading unanimously, would allow fireworks use between 9am and 10pm on July 3rd, unless the date falls on a Saturday, during which their use would be permitted between 9am and 11pm. Fireworks would also be allowed from 9am to 11pm on July 4th.
For New Years, fireworks would be limited to between 9am New Year’s Eve and 12:30am New Year’s Day. Violators would face fines of $250.
A second and third passage of the ordinance is required before the proposal becomes law.