Kitchener considering limiting days fireworks are allowed

Kitchener is considering restricting the number of days fireworks are allowed to be set off—as complaints from residents shoot up.

“The number of complaints we're receiving in relation to the fireworks bylaw is significantly increased in the past couple years,” said the city's Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Michael May.

In 2018, Kitchener received 58 complaints. In 2019, it received 65. In 2020, it received 148. Last year, it received 203.

So far this year, there have been 103 complaints, and May noted Diwali is still to come in October.

At a city council meeting this week, councillors supported a motion from Councillor Bil Ioannidis, directing staff to review the bylaw and to find out whether to restrict the use of fireworks to only on holiday days.

Kitchener's fireworks bylaw currently allows people to set off fireworks on Victoria Day, Canada Day, and Diwali, as well as the days immediately before and after those holidays. A permit is required for other days. 

Ioannidis suggested a public engagement process to see whether a change to the bylaw would be acceptable to the community.

“I do think it's important to manage expectations here. This is an incredibly difficult bylaw to enforce,” said May.

“Even if we get a specific property, by the time bylaw staff are there, the fireworks are done and then people have left.”

Ioannidis' motion says noise exposure from fireworks late at night negatively impacts residents' sleep, and that community members indicate children and pets react negatively to fireworks noise. 

Councillor Margaret Johnson asked if the city could consider banning the sale of fireworks, which councillors did not direct staff to do. 

“People will simply buy them in Cambridge and Waterloo and bring them into the city,” said May.