What you can do:
- Discharge consumer fireworks from June 27 to July 5, 2026, outside of restricted zones.
- Use novelty items like sparklers within Rapid City limits.
- Set off fireworks in allowed areas of Pennington County, subject to local city ordinances.
What you cannot do:
- Discharge any fireworks, except novelties, within Rapid City limits.
- Sell or discharge fireworks within the Black Hills Fire Protection District, including areas west of Highway 79 and certain zones near Interstate 90.
- Disregard the voluntary 11 p.m. curfew in Rapid Valley without risk of citation for reckless or negligent behavior.
- Leave fireworks litter behind after discharge.
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Local officials are reminding residents about the strict rules surrounding the use of fireworks as the Independence Day holiday approaches.
Under South Dakota Codified Law 34-37-16.1, the legal period to discharge consumer fireworks runs from June 27 through the first Sunday after the Fourth of July. For the current calendar year, the final day for legal discharge is July 5, 2026.
The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to comply with a voluntary 11 p.m. curfew in the Rapid Valley area during this timeframe.
The illegal use of fireworks carries severe consequences in Pennington County. Violators can face a fine of up to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or both penalties combined. Individual communities within Pennington County maintain distinct city ordinances that detail exactly which types of fireworks are permitted, if any.
Within the city limits of Rapid City, all fireworks are completely prohibited. The only exceptions to this ban are novelty items, including sparklers. To monitor compliance, the Rapid City Police Department, the Rapid City Fire Department, and Rapid City Code Enforcement will deploy additional personnel on patrol to specifically address local fireworks complaints.
The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office will also increase patrols in Rapid Valley. In accordance with Rapid City ordinance, law enforcement can issue citations inside a one-mile buffer zone that encircles the Rapid City limits, an area that encompasses sections of Rapid Valley. Authorities note that citations can be issued after the voluntary 11 p.m. curfew, or at any other hour of the day if an individual is found to be reckless or negligent with fireworks.
Furthermore, South Dakota Codified Law strictly bans both the sale and the discharge of fireworks within the Black Hills Fire Protection District. This restricted zone includes all areas situated west of Highway 79 from Hot Springs north to roughly Interstate 90 at exit 61. The fire protection boundary also tracks along Interstate 90 to the east of Black Hawk and Piedmont.
Local agencies are asking community members to respect the law, prioritize safety and courtesy, and properly pick up and discard all fireworks litter after use.
