What Northern California counties ban fireworks?
July 5, 2015 7:35 PM Subscribe
A rough fourth of July (and 3rd, and 5th) for my dog here in Sacramento. We want to avoid the five solid hours of booming and whistling next year by getting out of town. Can you recommend a California town or county that bans fireworks and enforces that ban?
Thunder shirts don't help and the sound of fireworks filters through all the noise barriers I try to erect. Warnings of where not to go also appreciated.
We recently moved to Sacramento, which has the loudest and most excessive use of fireworks I’ve ever experienced. Nice city in many ways but Sacramento shoots off fireworks at the drop of a hat and the 4th of July sounds like the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Thunder shirts don't help and the sound of fireworks filters through all the noise barriers I try to erect. Warnings of where not to go also appreciated.
We recently moved to Sacramento, which has the loudest and most excessive use of fireworks I’ve ever experienced. Nice city in many ways but Sacramento shoots off fireworks at the drop of a hat and the 4th of July sounds like the Battle of Bunker Hill.
I'm pretty sure Davis prohibits the sale and use of fireworks, but the city itself does do a fireworks show.
posted by mikurski at 8:39 PM on July 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by mikurski at 8:39 PM on July 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
We were just in Kern county (Tehachapi specifically) and did not hear a single firework aside from the city's own display. They had pretty prominent signs saying they could fine up to $1500 if you were caught.
posted by zsazsa at 8:39 PM on July 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by zsazsa at 8:39 PM on July 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Santa Cruz prohibits fireworks and enforces fairly well. We live on the west side of Santa Cruz and there were occasional bangs last night but my anxious dog didn't stir because they were distant and infrequent.
posted by anadem at 8:46 PM on July 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by anadem at 8:46 PM on July 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
As many have noted most towns who ban fireworks still provide some form of fireworks shows etc. Your best bet is to find one of the areas listed above that are far enough out in the sticks that it's not an issue as opposed to looking for areas where it's illegal.
posted by bitdamaged at 9:05 PM on July 5, 2015
posted by bitdamaged at 9:05 PM on July 5, 2015
My friend told me today that Hayward not only bans fireworks, but doesn't do a townwide show either. However, that's still in the Bay Area where other shows are going off, so I don't know if that helps.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:16 PM on July 5, 2015
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:16 PM on July 5, 2015
Monterey has no fireworks show within 40 miles if I recall correctly.
posted by kylej at 11:08 PM on July 5, 2015
posted by kylej at 11:08 PM on July 5, 2015
Oh man, your poor pup! Definitely use the info that you find here as a jumping off point, but then check in with the specific hotel, campground, Airbnb, whatever to double-check the fireworks scene. These things can vary so much by neighborhood or city, that you could easily end up in a miserable spot.
For example, I live in Santa Cruz (where fireworks are banned) and there are neighborhoods (including my own) that are notorious for massive professional fireworks displays that are smuggled onto the beach or the streets. A beach just ten minutes from anadem's general location is known as "Normandy" on July 4th due to the combat-zone quality of the experience. The police and sheriff do what they can, but it's only a drop in the bucket.
In the past, my family has avoided the insanity by staying in downtown Sonora, CA or at the Best Western in Gilroy, CA.
posted by annaramma at 1:33 PM on July 6, 2015
For example, I live in Santa Cruz (where fireworks are banned) and there are neighborhoods (including my own) that are notorious for massive professional fireworks displays that are smuggled onto the beach or the streets. A beach just ten minutes from anadem's general location is known as "Normandy" on July 4th due to the combat-zone quality of the experience. The police and sheriff do what they can, but it's only a drop in the bucket.
In the past, my family has avoided the insanity by staying in downtown Sonora, CA or at the Best Western in Gilroy, CA.
posted by annaramma at 1:33 PM on July 6, 2015
A friend of mine that also has a dog extremely frightened of fireworks/loud noises always goes camping in a State or National park. The rangers make sure that everyone adheres to the no fireworks policy.
posted by IpsoFacto at 3:51 PM on July 6, 2015
posted by IpsoFacto at 3:51 PM on July 6, 2015
My friend told me today that Hayward not only bans fireworks, but doesn't do a townwide show either. However, that's still in the Bay Area where other shows are going off, so I don't know if that helps.
If it's anything like Oakland, the lack of a municipal event makes the in-town fireworks worse. The entire city is full of people setting off mortars.
posted by oneirodynia at 5:23 PM on July 6, 2015
If it's anything like Oakland, the lack of a municipal event makes the in-town fireworks worse. The entire city is full of people setting off mortars.
posted by oneirodynia at 5:23 PM on July 6, 2015
I too live in Santa Cruz (eastside, Live Oak) and we are on night/day 5 of fireworks going off despite county and citywide bans (I can hear more as I type and our next door neighbors were setting them off at 8pm). So I wouldn't take any official ban as evidence you'd be free of them.
posted by marylynn at 10:25 PM on July 6, 2015
posted by marylynn at 10:25 PM on July 6, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks for all the suggestions! Leaning towards Inverness, Gilroy or National Park for next year.
posted by mulcahy at 5:15 PM on July 8, 2015
posted by mulcahy at 5:15 PM on July 8, 2015
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