The Poulsbo City Council approved limiting the use of fireworks in city limits for only the 4th of July, aligning with Kitsap County policy, at its meeting Feb. 8.

The ordinance will not take effect for one year. It will be implemented in 2024 when new discharge hours will be from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 4. Fireworks will be prohibited on New Year’s Eve once the ordinance takes effect.

Councilmember Gary McVey said he voted to align with the county instead of a complete ban since police chief Ron Harding said it would be easier to enforce that way. “We all know the difficulties of enforcing fireworks law but I’m hoping that our department will be able to do some more than we have in past years,” he said.

Councilmember Ed Stern suggested that if the city does eventually implement a full ban, he would like to see Poulsbo bring back some sort of community fireworks show, similar to what the 3rd of July used to be on the downtown waterfront. “I think a restoration of a community event like that…would go a long way to alleviating a lot of people’s individual desires for fireworks,” he said.

Councilmember David Musgrove added since the law doesn’t take effect for one year, it gives the city time to develop enforcement plans and strategies for those who don’t adhere to the new law.