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City of Des Moines, IA

06/25/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/25/2026 07:50

City of Des Moines Reminds Residents of Fireworks Ordinances and Reporting Guidelines Ahead of Independence Day


DES MOINES, IOWA - Thursday, June 25, 2026 -
Following a successful reduction in fireworks-related damages last summer, the City of Des Moines is reminding residents to stay safe and responsibly follow local fireworks ordinances as the 4 th of July holiday approaches.

Moving into the second year of the City's updated fireworks regulations, the permitted times and locations for shooting off fireworks remain the same. Fireworks are allowed only on private property with the explicit permission of the property owner.

Permitted Fireworks Times
(On Private Property Only)

July 3, 2026 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 4, 2026 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fireworks remain strictly prohibited at all times in any Des Moines Parks, as well as on streets, sidewalks, and other public spaces. Citations for violating City fireworks ordinances carry a $200 fine. "Last year, our community made impressive strides by respecting the updated rules, which directly resulted in less damage to our community spaces and parks," Mayor Connie Boesen said. "We are asking residents to maintain that same respect and vigilance this year. Let's keep the celebrations safe, responsible, and localized to private property so our public spaces remain beautiful for everyone to enjoy." Prior to the 2025 ordinance changes, illegal fireworks usage heavily impacted the Des Moines Parks system, requiring 120+ hours of staff cleanup and causing costly damage. Thanks to increased community compliance and targeted enforcement last year, park damage and debris saw an encouraging decrease, a trend the City hopes to continue. "We saw a noticeable drop in vandalism and debris in our parks last July, which meant our teams could spend more time maintaining our parks rather than repairing preventable damage," Des Moines Parks and Recreation Director Ben Page said. "However, even one damaged park is too many. We are continuing our close coordination with the Des Moines Police Department again this year to monitor our parks and enforce the ordinance."

Reporting Fireworks Violations

To report the use of fireworks during prohibited hours or in unauthorized areas like parks, streets or sidewalks, the Des Moines Police Department requests that residents call the DMPD Non-Emergency line at (515) 283-4811.

"Our goal is to foster a safe and fun holiday for every neighborhood," Des Moines Police Chief Michael McTaggart said. "We urge everyone to remain considerate of neighbors who are affected by loud fireworks, including veterans and residents with anxious pets. If you need to report a violation, please remember that our response may take some time due to high holiday call volumes, and our officers will need specific assistance from you to successfully issue a citation."

To formally issue a citation in cases where a responding DMPD Police Officer did not personally witness the fireworks violation, residents must follow these reporting guidelines:

  • Report the Violation: Call (515) 283-4811. While police response may be delayed due to high priority call volume on the holiday, citations can still be issued retroactively with resident assistance.
  • Meet with an Officer: You must be willing to meet with a responding officer to identify the exact property or person responsible for the violation.
  • Gather Photo and Video Evidence: Clear photo or video evidence of the fireworks being lit is highly beneficial to building a case, but residents should never trespass or put themselves in danger to capture it.
  • Agree to Testify: You must indicate a willingness to testify in court as a witness if necessary. This step is mandatory for prosecution, even if photo or video evidence exists.

Tracking the Impact: A Step in the Right Direction


The City continues to track firework-related data to measure the effective of the ordinance. Thanks to resident cooperation in 2025, several key metrics improved compared to previous years, though the City emphasizes the importance of following fireworks regulations:
  • DMPD Calls for Service: Decreased by over 15% citywide compared to previous peak years.
  • DMFD Calls for Service: Decreased by over 35% citywide compared to previous peak years.
  • Park Damage: Fewer than 20% of Des Moines Parks reported significant debris or property damage last year, down from 32% in 2024.
  • Facility Safety: No major facility closures were required due to fireworks vandalism last year, a significant improvement from 2024, when amenities like the Riverview Park restrooms suffered severe damage and limited resident use.

Media Contact

Ally MacLean
Communications Specialist II, City Manager's Office
(515) 689-8819
[email protected]

About the City of Des Moines

The City of Des Moines is Iowa's capital city and our 17 departments serve more than 214,000 residents and 46 neighborhood associations. Des Moines is a leader in sustainability and provides its residents with vibrant neighborhoods, an alive and active downtown, and abundant leisure opportunities.

Des Moines continuously improves neighborhoods, public safety and quality of life by offering exceptional city services and reliable infrastructure while fostering an involved and compassionate community for all who visit and live in Des Moines.

Visit DSM.city, Facebook and Twitter for more information.

City of Des Moines, IA published this content on June 25, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 25, 2026 at 13:50 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]