Four years after the Shawnee City Council approved an ordinance allowing the sale of fireworks in the city, it has now made the sale and use of fireworks illegal.
On Monday, the Shawnee City Council voted 7-1 to repeal Chapter 5.70, an amendment approved in May 2022 that loosened rules for the possession and discharge of fireworks within the city limits, as well as amendments made in 2023 for who gets chosen to sell them and days when fireworks can be discharged.
Councilmember Kurt Knappen was in dissent.
The repeal was the result of numerous complaints from residents concerning the volume of fireworks being discharged, air and land pollution, a lack of visibility on roads in Shawnee when they’re discharged and loud noises, several councilmembers and residents noted during the meeting.
“The firework usage has increased, and we know it’s increased anecdotally through all of the residents who reached to us and said that this was hurting their enjoyment of the holiday, putting their animals, putting the veterans, put their children at risk, and I think that that’s something that we as government really to hear and listen to,” Councilmember Laurel Burchfield said.
The city allowed certain fireworks starting in 2022
In May 2022, the Shawnee City Council approved changes to its municipal code that allowed fireworks for recreational use and allowed pop-up firework stands within its city limits. It still restricted bottle rockets and other types of fireworks with a “stick.”
At the time, a majority of the councilmembers said they supported the changes for reasons like leaving the choice to buy fireworks up to residents and deregulation.
“I mean, most of us went around saying we were for small government and less regulation and this is a way for us to deliver on those principles. At least in my ward and people I’ve had conversations with, it’s been popular,” former Councilmember Mike Kemmling said at a city council meeting in 2022.
In 2023, city officials said that while they saw no significant change in the number of complaints about fireworks they’ve received since the city council lifted the ban on certain types of fireworks, fireworks caused blazes in city limits.
Councilmembers, residents complained about fireworks
While talking about repealing the sale and use of fireworks in the city, three city councilmembers and residents shared their reasons for why it was needed.
While campaigning for his seat in 2025, Councilmember Eric Persson said constituents repeatedly raised concerns about fireworks with him, which he agreed with.
“For me, it just puts a lot of stress on people, puts stress on our veterans with PTSD, and it puts stress on our pets. I’ve got animals at home. It puts a lot of stress on them. It puts a lot of stress on people with respiratory conditions,” he said.
Councilmembers Jeanie Murphy and Steele Reynolds also agreed that the litter was also a problem.
“I’m still, as I walk around my neighborhood, finding the trash of bottle rockets, which I know are not legal, but they were everywhere,” Murphy said.
Other Shawnee residents shared similar annoyances during the city council meeting.
Neighbors shot off fireworks from late June to mid-July and at all hours, Deb Altenhofen said.
“This year was the worst so far, for not only the nonstop noise but also the sheer volume of the smoke,” she said.
When fireworks were being deployed in her neighborhood, Georgia Deming said she had trouble going outside.
“We couldn’t see the end of the street because of the smoke. We questioned if that was for fireworks or if there was a fire somewhere,” she said.
Councilmembers question firework rules enforcement
The sole member of the city council who originally voted on the fireworks ordinance, Knappen said he was against repealing it because it would be tough for the city to enforce and that people’s behavior will be tough to change.
“I don’t think making them illegal is going to change the behavior that’s going on. That’s part of why we we made them legal in 2022, and historically, we’ve not really actually cracked down. So I’m not sure we’re going to get the result of what we want here or what folks would want,” he said.
Knappen also defended the ordinance because of its education requirement that accompanied every firework sale.
In her support of repealing the ordinance, Murphy said enforcing it would be difficult, but she believes a ban could still help minimize the amount of fireworks being deployed in the city.
“I know that can’t be fully enforced, but maybe, at least, it will slow things down,” she said.
What does punishment look like?
According to the Shawnee City Code:
Any person or corporation violating the ordinance can be punished for the first conviction by a fine of up to $500 and/or six months in jail.
A second conviction within a two-year period could result of a fine up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail.
A third conviction or subsequent convictions could result in a fine of up to $1,500 and/or up to six months in jail.
In order for residents to avoid fines and still enjoy fireworks, city councilmembers noted the numerous professional displays in the county around the July 4 holiday, including the city’s annual Parked event at Stump Park.
“I think there’s so many opportunities to enjoy fireworks in Johnson County. Shawnee hosted its own event that is spectacular for our residents to come out and watch professionals put on fireworks,” Burchfield said.
