With the recent change to state law allowing the sale of fireworks in Iowa, many city and county officials are not changing their ordinances to allow for fireworks to be displayed.

Jefferson Police Chief Mark Clouse says City Ordinance 41.12 prohibits the sale and use of fireworks inside the incorporated city limits. However, Clouse adds that the City allows for certain types of lesser fireworks to be used.

“Oh you can still use your what they call novelty type fireworks. Those are the ones that you can purchase at your convenient stores and your department stores (like) snakes, sparklers and those types of things are obviously still legal here in the City of Jefferson. It’s just the normal fireworks that have never been able to be used here, your firecrackers, pop bottle rockets, roman candles and those types of things are still going to be illegal here in the City of Jefferson.”

However, if a resident wanted to have a fireworks display, those individuals can apply for a fireworks permit through City Hall and be subject to approval by the City Council.

Clouse cautions anyone found using fireworks without a permit can be cited and fined up to $250.