Sister Bay Prohibits Fireworks

The Village of Sister Bay clamped down on fireworks with New Year’s Eve only days away, requiring a permit for those who want to shoot them off into the sky – and then only to those who have a pyrotechnician’s license or operator certificate from a recognized pyrotechnic training organization. 

Village Administrator Julie Schmelzer cited disrupted residents, pets and fire hazards as the reasons for the board’s unanimous approval of the ordinance that went into effect on Wednesday, Dec. 20. The ordinance exempts village-sponsored or Sister Bay Advancement Association displays. 

“Taking pride in protecting the night sky, and minimizing nuisances, the village felt it necessary to move forward with the ordinance and alert the public that fireworks will no longer be tolerated,” Schmelzer said. 

The County of Door refers back to Wisconsin statute 167.10 regarding the regulation of fireworks. That statute makes it illegal for anyone to “possess or use fireworks without a user’s permit from the mayor of the city, president of the village or chairperson of the town in which the possession or use is to occur.”

However, municipalities may have ordinances that refer back to county code and state statute, but few have a permitting process in place – creating a gray area and circular loop for enforcement.

Some municipalities do require fireworks permits – the towns of Gibraltar, Jacksonport and Liberty Grove, for example – and Sister Bay now joins those.

“We will still allow items such as sparklers, snakes, and confetti guns, as well as some other explosives, but the loud fireworks that shoot into the sky will no longer be allowed,” Schmelzer said.