Castle Rock Town Council voted 6-1 on October 6 against banning the sale of consumer fireworks during Stage 1 fire restrictions, preserving a policy that lets retailers sell the devices even while residents are barred from setting them off. The lone dissenting vote came from Mayor Jason Gray, who argued the arrangement sends a harmful mixed message to the public.
The vote came during the October 6 meeting, when the council approved an ordinance on first reading covering a broader update to the town's fire restriction code, according to The Denver Gazette. Fire Chief Norris Croom presented the proposed amendments, which were meant to clarify which activities are allowed during restrictions and improve public understanding of the code. Croom told the council that the gap between allowed sales and prohibited use had confused residents, a point echoed by Gray, who cast the sole no vote on the final motion.
Under the current rules, Stage 1 restrictions permit the sale of personal fireworks while prohibiting their use, whereas Stage 2 restrictions bar both sale and use outright. Councilmember Max Brooks moved to approve the broader code changes while stripping out the proposed Stage 1 sales prohibition, and the motion passed 6-1. Councilmember Laura Cavey said she did not want to hurt the fireworks business and preferred further discussion of safety measures instead of an outright ban, per the same report.
Industry Pushback Shaped the Outcome
Two fireworks retailers spoke against the proposed ban. Ben Major, representing TNT Fireworks, suggested alternatives such as requiring retailers to tell customers that fireworks use is prohibited during Stage 1, or posting warning signs, rather than stopping sales altogether. Major argued a sales ban could simply push buyers to purchase more dangerous, illegal fireworks in neighboring states, pointing to Wyoming retailers who sell aerial fireworks that are illegal to possess or use in Castle Rock.
Brad Witherell, representing Davy Jones Fireworks, told the council the ordinance would negatively affect his business. The council ultimately rejected the proposed ban after hearing retailers' objections, according to the Denver Gazette.
The debate is not new to Castle Rock. Fire Chief Croom noted in an executive memorandum accompanying this year's ordinance that the town council rejected a nearly identical Stage 1 sales ban back in 2019, that time by a lopsided 1-6 vote, according to Town of Castle Rock records.
What Stage 1 and Stage 2 Actually Allow
Under state law, Colorado consumer fireworks sales are limited to non-exploding, ground-based “permissible fireworks” containing 50 milligrams or less of explosive mixture, while aerial devices like bottle rockets and mortars remain illegal statewide for consumer use, and furnishing fireworks to or purchases by people under 16 are prohibited except for supervised possession and discharge of permissible fireworks, per the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. Towns retain authority to impose stricter local rules on top of that baseline.
The newly advanced Castle Rock ordinance also spells out what residents can and cannot do under each restriction stage. Stage 1 rules allow charcoal grills, pellet, wood, or electric smokers, commercially manufactured or permanently installed outdoor fireplaces fueled by natural gas or propane with shutoff valves, and petroleum-fueled stoves, lanterns, and heating devices. Stage 2 restrictions are tighter: charcoal grills, wood or charcoal fires, portable fireplaces, and patio fire pits are prohibited outright, though gas- or liquid-fueled stoves and grills, continuously monitored pellet or wood smokers, and continuously monitored natural-gas or propane fire features with shutoff valves remain allowed. The fire chief or fire marshal may also prohibit otherwise-permitted activities that pose an immediate or unreasonable risk of fire spread, based on an assessment of wind, weather, fuel conditions, fire behavior, equipment condition, and location. The council expects a final vote on the ordinance on October 20.
A Summer of Shifting Fire Danger
A Summer of Shifting Fire Danger The fireworks debate unfolded against the backdrop of a volatile 2026 wildfire season. Unincorporated Douglas County downgraded from Stage 2 to Stage 1 fire restrictions on August 20 following rainfall, according to Colorado Politics. Those Stage 2 conditions forced the cancellation of Castle Rock's official Independence Day fireworks show; the town later rescheduled the 20- to 22-minute display for Veterans Day, November 11, launching from Miller's Landing, per the Town of Castle Rock.
Town officials have emphasized that the rescheduled public display does not open the door for residents to set off their own fireworks. Castle Rock's municipal rules restrict personal fireworks use strictly to July 4 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. when no fire restrictions are in effect, meaning personal use remains prohibited during the Veterans Day show regardless of the public celebration.
The stakes of fire danger in the area were made starkly clear in Penley Fire evacuations in late July, when a wildfire burning west of Sedalia forced emergency evacuations and prompted the opening of a shelter at New Hope Church in Castle Rock while the county remained under Stage 2 restrictions. More than 125 firefighters from 10 regional agencies responded to contain that late-night threat.
Enforcement penalties for violating fire restrictions vary by jurisdiction. In unincorporated Douglas County, violating fire restrictions is a Class 2 Petty Offense carrying fines of up to $1,000 plus a $10 surcharge, per the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. Nearby Lone Tree took a harsher approach when it enacted Stage 2 restrictions in July, setting municipal penalties for personal fireworks violations at up to $2,650 in fines and up to a year in jail, with police there adopting a zero-tolerance policy of issuing tickets without warnings, according to the City of Lone Tree.
Same Meeting, Bigger Agenda
The fireworks vote was just one item on a packed October 6 agenda at Town Hall. The same meeting included initial approval of a $411.8 million 2027 municipal budget and final passage of a retail kratom sales ban, according to DougCo Social, underscoring how much regulatory ground the council covered in a single session.
