Nothing that flies through the air or explodes is legal in Ohio

Ohio's fireworks laws can be complicated. What's legal to buy isn't always legal to set off.Watch this storyJust because you can buy it in the state of Ohio doesn't mean you can light it. Even consumer-grade fireworks can land you in trouble if police choose to press the issue.Related: 4th of July celebrations, fireworks in the Tri-StateNothing that flies through the air or explodes is legal in Ohio.The law allows for the sale of consumer-grade fireworks, but you have to take them out of the state within 48 hours.Hamilton police are like a lot of other departments, trying to walk a line on the Fourth of July between ruining people's holiday and keeping people safe."Basically all of your simple things that you'd see maybe children playing around with, the pop-its or snap pops, those are fine. They're still legal. Your sparklers are legal. Some of the smoke bombs are legal," Hamilton police Sgt. Brian Robinson said.Hamilton will have extra officers out, handling complaints about the illegal items.While officers have discretion about whether to press charges, they also have a duty to make sure people are safe."If we see a dangerous situation, we're going to take some action on it. We can confiscate the fireworks and there are several ordinances they can issue citations underneath those," Hamilton said.To make sure you don't violate any laws or ordinances, it's not enough just to know the state laws; you also need to get information from the city or township where you live.While Ohio limits many of the types of fireworks that can be set off without a license, Kentucky and Indiana laws are less restrictive.

Ohio's fireworks laws can be complicated. What's legal to buy isn't always legal to set off.

Watch this story

Just because you can buy it in the state of Ohio doesn't mean you can light it. Even consumer-grade fireworks can land you in trouble if police choose to press the issue.

Related: 4th of July celebrations, fireworks in the Tri-State

Nothing that flies through the air or explodes is legal in Ohio.

The law allows for the sale of consumer-grade fireworks, but you have to take them out of the state within 48 hours.

Hamilton police are like a lot of other departments, trying to walk a line on the Fourth of July between ruining people's holiday and keeping people safe.

"Basically all of your simple things that you'd see maybe children playing around with, the pop-its or snap pops, those are fine. They're still legal. Your sparklers are legal. Some of the smoke bombs are legal," Hamilton police Sgt. Brian Robinson said.

Hamilton will have extra officers out, handling complaints about the illegal items.



While officers have discretion about whether to press charges, they also have a duty to make sure people are safe.

"If we see a dangerous situation, we're going to take some action on it. We can confiscate the fireworks and there are several ordinances they can issue citations underneath those," Hamilton said.

To make sure you don't violate any laws or ordinances, it's not enough just to know the state laws; you also need to get information from the city or township where you live.

While Ohio limits many of the types of fireworks that can be set off without a license, Kentucky and Indiana laws are less restrictive.