Wilmot council to debate fireworks bylaw changes

The issue of private fireworks displays has come to Wilmot Township council.

A staff report will be tabled at Monday’s committee of the whole meeting that contains four recommendations to increase safety and reduce nuisance calls.

The recommendations include:

• Limiting fireworks displays to the day of the holiday. The current bylaw allows displays on the days before and after the holiday.
• Adding a time frame for when displays are permitted. Staff recommend they only occur between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. (Chinese New Year, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.)
• Prohibit the sale of fireworks within the Township of Wilmot starting in 2026
• Increase the fines for violating the fireworks bylaw from the range of $150 to $250 to a set fine of $500

These changes would bring Wilmot in line with bylaws in other communities in the Region of Waterloo.

Should councillors choose to adopt the recommendations, township staff would then be tasked with crafting the new bylaw and presenting it to council in August.

The cities of Kitchener and Waterloo recently banned the sales of fireworks starting in 2026.

Cambridge City Council has firework bylaw discussions scheduled for later in June.