July 4 is fast approaching, and officials are reminding New Yorkers once again that fireworks are illegal in New York City.In New York state, only sparkling devices are legal for customer use, but not in New York City or on Long Island, where they are illegal.Sparklers are also illegal in the following counties: Albany, Columbia, Erie, Orange , Schenectady, Warren and Westchester.
Sparkling devices are ground-based or handheld devices that produce a shower of colored sparks or a colored flame, audible crackling or whistling noise and smoke. The law limits the type, size, and construction of sparkling devices and requires that these devices must be handheld or mounted on a base or spike and be limited in sizes that range from 1 to 500 grams of pyrotechnic composition.Be sure to check that sparkling devices are legal in your city, town, or county as local laws may change.