It remains to be seen if it sounds less like a war zone on both sides of the Delta-Surrey border following Surrey council this week agreeing to increase fines related to the sale and use of fireworks ahead of Halloween and Diwali celebrations.
“The increase in fines is in response to the significant surge in complaints related to fireworks leading up to Halloween and Diwali,” said Mayor Brenda Locke in a news release. “The illegal use of fireworks poses severe risks, including potential injuries, property damage, and distress to animals. Council has taken this step to significantly increase fines in order to deter the illegal use of fireworks and to ensure the safety of our residents.”
In Surrey, the discharge of fireworks requires federal certification and permits from the Surrey Fire Service.
Under the current Surrey regulations, fines for fireworks violations have been relatively low, with maximums reaching $500, the city notes.
The city is proposing substantial amendments to the Fireworks Bylaw, Bylaw Enforcement Notice (BEN) Bylaw, and Municipal Ticket Information (MTI) Bylaw.
Those changes include increasing the minimum penalty for fireworks violations from $100 to $400 and the maximum penalty from $5,000 to $50,000, raising the maximum MTI fine for violations of the Fireworks Bylaw to $1,000, which is to facilitate more rigorous enforcement, as well as increased penalties under the BEN Bylaw to ensure better compliance and community safety.
Meanwhile, Delta council recently gave final approval for bylaw amendments aimed at having tougher new city penalties on using fireworks without permission.
Although Delta 18 years ago banned the use of fireworks, except with a fireworks permit issued by the fire department, the community continues to experience illegal fireworks use.
A staff report notes that almost all firework usage in Delta is illegal as the city only issued five fireworks permits in 2023, but last year issued 24 bylaw offence notices for bylaw contraventions.
The bylaw updates include prohibiting the discharge within 500 metres of livestock properties, while the fines for all illegal firework activity will be increased to $500.
The bylaw updates will not solve all fireworks problems, but in the absence of a broader provincial or federal framework, they are the only tools available, the report notes.
Delta staff are also preparing a memo for council outlining the enforcement plan for Halloween/Diwali and other significant firework days and events.
A City of Delta motion on fireworks was endorsed at last month’s Union of BC Municipalities convention, requesting the province work with local governments to amend the BC Fireworks Act and concurrently work with the federal government to address the online sale of fireworks.
Delta staff found significant differences in how local governments in B.C. are regulating the sale and use of fireworks within their communities. Where no local bylaw exists, the provincial Fireworks Act applies., resulting in discrepancies.
