1. Table of contents

Licence summary

Any person who is employed by, or in business as, a professional organiser or operator of firework displays, can apply to Falkirk Council for a dispensation from the general prohibition on using adult fireworks during night hours.

Dispensations can only be granted where the applicant proposes to put on a fireworks display, or to use fireworks at a national public celebration or national commemorative event.

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must be employed by, or in business as, a professional organiser or operator of fireworks displays.

An application for a dispensation should be made to Falkirk Council.

Any application for a dispensation must be received by Falkirk Council at least 6 weeks before the proposed event. The application must be made in writing and include:

  • the name and address of the applicant
  • a description of the proposed fireworks display, national public celebration or national commemorative event
  • details of the fireworks proposed to be used at the event
  • the proposed location of the event
  • the proposed date or dates and hours during which fireworks will be used at the event

Successful applicants will be prohibited from using fireworks in terms of the dispensation unless they give public notice in the prescribed manner of the proposed use no later than 7 days prior to the commencement of the event.

No fee is payable in terms of an application.

Regulation summary

Application evaluation process

Falkirk Council must have regard to the need to minimise the risk that fireworks will be used with harmful consequences for people, animals or property, when considering an application for a dispensation to allow the display of fireworks late at night.

Any application for a dispensation received by Falkirk Council will be processed as quickly as possible and, in any event, within a period of 2 weeks. This period will run from the time that all of the required information has been submitted.

Will tacit consent apply?

No. It is in the public interest that Falkirk Council must process your application before it can be granted.

If you have not heard from us within 28 days, please contact us.

How to apply

To apply for an application for a dispensation from the prohibition on use of fireworks during night hours you can complete the form below and send it to Falkirk Council by email or post:

Failed application and licence holder redress

Please contact us in the first instance.

Other redress

For example; complaints about noise, pollution, etc should be directed to the Environmental Protection Unit.

Environmental Protection Unit
Falkirk Stadium
4 Stadium Way
Falkirk
FK2 9EE

Any breach of curfew times or rules should be reported to Police Scotland.

Additional information

Fireworks during night hours

It is illegal to set fireworks off between 11:00pm and 6:00am except in the following cases.

  • November 5: it is permitted to let off fireworks until midnight.
  • New Year's Eve, Chinese New Year & Diwali: it is permitted to let off fireworks until 1:00am on the following day.

The law for purchasing or possessing fireworks

It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to possess adult fireworks in a public place (category 1 fireworks and sparklers are exempt).

  • The age limit for buying adult fireworks or sparklers is 18.
  • Category 1 fireworks (caps, cracker snaps, novelty matches, party poppers, serpents, and throwdowns) must not be supplied to persons under 16.
  • You can be fined for letting off fireworks off in a public place. The street outside is a public place, as is the Council park, the bus station, the schoolyard, the football stadium or the youth centre.
  • It is illegal to break open retail packs of fireworks and sell them individually.
  • Any breach of the curfew times or these rules should be reported to Police Scotland.