City issuing violation notices, fines in new approach to enforcement of Hayward fireworks ban
Fireworks of any type are illegal in Hayward—and yet their ongoing use over holidays and other special events is a continuing concern and frustration of residents and firefighters alike.
That remained the case over the Fourth of July this year with widespread explosions, burning projectiles and other incendiary devices drawing hundreds of complaints and with firefighters called to respond to the scene of 27 separate fire starts.
To combat it, the City Council earlier this year approved a new approach to enforcing the fireworks ban by amending the City’s noise nuisance ordinance to specifically include use of fireworks and to make property owners subject to being fined for fireworks activity determined to be emanating from their property.
Though it remains to be seen if the new ordinance will prove to be an effective deterrent, the Hayward Police Department and Code Enforcement Division have been working hard to put it into effect.
Over July 4 and the morning of July 5, the Hayward Police Department and Code Enforcement Division received 359 fireworks complaints. Together, teams of police and code enforcement officers, along with regular police patrols, documented and tied some of this illegal fireworks activity to 94 separate addresses in the City.
Since then, the City’s Code Enforcement Division has issued notifications of violation with penalties to owners of 59 different properties and counting—with fines of $1,200, $3,000 and $5,000 for a first, second and third offense.
To learn more about enforcement of Hayward’s fireworks ban, including how to report illegal fireworks activity, go online here on the City of Hayward website or email the fireworks ban enforcement project team at fireworks@hayward-ca.gov.
