While the sale of fireworks is permitted in Knoxville per city ordinance 6-3-31, the discharging of them is prohibited within the city limits. 

Per the City of Knoxville’s ordinance, a firework is considered any explosive composition, a combination of explosive substances, or an article prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration, or detonation. This includes items such as blank cartridges, firecrackers, torpedoes, and skyrockets. Knoxville Police Chief Aaron Fuller asks residents to respect the city ordinance and allow the police department to work in other capacities to keep the community safe.

“We get a lot of calls about fireworks. With the public that travel to and from Knoxville, we want to make sure that everybody’s safe on the road. We also have other calls that we’re responding to, some are emergencies, some are not. But every minute that we spend on a fireworks call, is something that is a minute that we’re not spending doing something else in the community trying to make it safer on our roads, trying to investigate other more serious crimes.”

Hear more from Knoxville Police Chief Aaron Fuller on today’s Let’s Talk Knoxville. Read more about Knoxville’s Fireworks Ordinance here.