City councillors have approved a new bylaw allowing residents to fire off short-range fireworks without a permit.

At Wednesday’s council meeting, councillors moved recommendations that allow the use of short-range fireworks on all Brampton residential properties on Victoria Day, Canada Day, Diwali and New Year’s Eve, without seeking permission from the city.

The move follows a July vote banning the sale of flying lanterns, bombshells, skyrockets and other heavy-duty fireworks. Under the new rules, the sale of all fireworks “that would reasonably be expected to travel or pose a hazard more than three metres (10 feet) from the point of ignition” are banned.

It is now also illegal to sell or possess these types of fireworks in Brampton.

Conversely, short-range fireworks are those that tend to travel less than three metres (10 feet) when set off – fountains, wheels, ground spinners, sparklers.

“This is a proactive step that moves us forward in protecting our residents and their property, while allowing everyone to celebrate important occasions with their families,” said Grant Gibson, Regional Coun. and Community and Public Services Committee chair.

Gibson pushed for an outright ban on fireworks after several homes in the city’s west end had to be evacuated following a large fire during Diwali celebrations last November.

His calls to ban all fireworks ignited tensions in the community, particularly Brampton’s ethnic population.

Staff, including the city’s fire chief Michael Clark, spoke against an outright sanction because, as he explained, enforcing such a restriction would be too hard.

With the new firework rules in place, the city will now turn its attention to public awareness on safe handling of fireworks and reaching out to vendors on best practices.

Residents can only use permitted fireworks on their own property. The rules also stipulate fireworks are not allowed to be used on the street, sidewalks, within city parks or on municipal or school properties.