Seaside council advances fireworks ordinance adding civil fines up to $5,000 in first reading

Seaside city council on March 23 approved the first reading of Ordinance 2026-02, a proposal to give the city a civil-enforcement route for illegal fireworks in addition to existing criminal penalties.

City staff told the council the change is designed to improve compliance and speed enforcement. Under the draft, civil penalties would be tiered: a presumptive $1,000 for a first violation, $3,000 for a second, and up to $5,000 for a third or an egregious offense, with $5,000 set as the proposed maximum. Staff said the goal is behavior change rather than revenue and emphasized the measure is intended to complement public education.

The ordinance directs the civil enforcement through the city’s nuisance code (chapter 96) while preserving criminal enforcement under section 131.11 for incidents involving greater harm or recklessness (for example, causing a fire or injury). Staff said civil cases have a lower burden of proof and faster resolution than criminal prosecutions, which are governed by state law.

Councilors questioned how municipal penalties would interact with Oregon law and whether the city can adopt penalties that are stricter than state criminal statutes. Police and staff explained the usual practice: criminal penalties are constrained by state rules, whereas civil penalties under municipal authority may be set independently. Council members asked staff to obtain formal legal advice before a second reading.

Enforcement mechanics drew substantial discussion. The draft treats violations as incident‑based (one occurrence or course of conduct) rather than a per‑firework count. Officers would retain discretion to confiscate fireworks or issue warnings; the draft also contemplates using video evidence and citizen witness statements when available. Staff acknowledged coverage challenges during peak periods (for example, the Fourth of July) and said operational plans for high‑demand weekends would be developed separately.

The ordinance includes a specific definition for conduct that would qualify as an egregious violation — for example, discharging fireworks toward a crowd or near an occupied structure, or conduct creating a substantial risk to persons, pets, structures or emergency responders — which could trigger the top penalty tier. Staff said that language seeks to give officers and judges clear guidance while remaining defensible in court.

Several councilors urged robust public outreach and noted the measure will likely be iterative: enforcement, public messaging and operational planning over multiple years. Staff also recommended attorney review before approval of a second reading, and reminded the council of the statutory 30‑day delay between adoption and the ordinance taking effect unless an emergency finding is made.

Council action: the council conducted a first reading of Ordinance 2026-02 by title only and the motion carried. The ordinance remains subject to city attorney review and additional public comment before a second and final adoption vote.

What’s next: staff will refine the draft with attorney input, prepare a clean ordinance text for public review, and work with police and fire on an operations and communications plan ahead of the summer season.