If you have a licence to store and sell fireworks, you may have received a reminder from the council's licensing processing team to renew it. If you are applying for a licence for the first time, we will inspect your premises in advance of a licence being issued. We advise early application to ensure the timely issue of a licence. It can take up to 10 working days to process.
If you have applied for a storage licence and it has been granted, then you can supply fireworks during the following time periods:
- from 15 October to 10 November
- from 26 to 31 December
- on the first day of the Chinese New Year and the three days immediately preceding this
- on the first day of Diwali and the three days immediately preceding this
If you wish to supply fireworks outside of these periods, you will need to apply for an additional all-year round licence.
To apply for a licence to store more than 5kg and less than 250kg net explosive content (NEC) of adult fireworks, you must complete the online application form below, accompanied by a site or floor plan and the correct fee. The form requires you to state the 'hazard type' and the amount of NEC you would like to store.
Enforcement officers will determine the maximum limit for the licence based upon how much a premise is able to safely store.
For a business to operate safely and in compliance, they should put appropriate measures in place, including:
- storing the fireworks safely (see how to store safely below)
- ensure the capacity of NEC held does not exceed the amount authorised by licence
- no banned fireworks are being sold
- age verification checks are in place and maintain a refusals log
- operate a challenge 21 or challenge 25 policy
- make sure your staff are properly trained
- the required statutory notice is displayed in a prominent position in the shop
Statutory notice
A fireworks statutory notice is required to be displayed at all premises that supply or expose for supply any Category F2 or Category F3 fireworks. By law it should be printed to a minimum A3 size.
The notice should be displayed in a prominent position, stating the following (this must appear in capital letters):
"It is illegal to sell category F2 fireworks or category F3 fireworks to anyone under the age of 18. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to possess category F2 fireworks or category F3 fireworks in a public place."
Signage will usually be provided by your firework supplier.
Our enforcement officers have the power to carry out unannounced inspections at premises and take appropriate actions where breaches are identified. They may also conduct test purchases of fireworks using underage volunteers. We would advise the borough's businesses to store and sell in compliance with the law.
Offences include selling fireworks without a licence, storing fireworks unsafely and storing fireworks in excess of the amount permitted under licence conditions. Businesses found in breach may be faced with their fireworks being seized and prosecution.
It is also an offence to sell fireworks to a person under the age of 18.
Banned fireworks
Any firework that exceeds 120 decibels must not be supplied to consumers.
Also banned are fireworks of the following description:
- aerial wheel
- banger, flash banger or double banger
- jumping cracker
- jumping ground spinner
- spinner
- mini rocket
- shot tube that produces a loud noise as its main effect and/or has an inside diameter greater than 30 mm
- battery containing bangers, flash bangers or double bangers
- a combination (other than a wheel) that includes one or more bangers, flash bangers or double bangers
Guidance for businesses for storing fireworks safely
Any person who stores fireworks must act appropriately to;
- prevent fire or explosions
- limit the extent of fire or explosion including measures to prevent the spreading of fires and the communication of explosions from one location to another; and
- protect people from the effects of fire or explosion.
External storage - ISO shipping containers
ISO containers (or similar metal storage units) used for firework storage should be kept in an area away from public access. Signage should be in place to prevent smoking and the build-up of flammable materials in the immediate area of the container.
The container itself must be earthed to prevent the build-up of static electricity, which could act as a source of ignition. The store must be fitted with suitable lightening protection.
The container should either be under constant supervision, or other physical measures such as the erection of a suitable fence should be taken to prevent unauthorised access to the area around the container.
If a container is in a public place such as a car park, it is essential to take effective measures to prevent it being hit by vehicles, arson or other malicious attacks. Cars and other vehicles are not permitted to be within 3m of the container.
Where an ISO or similar container used for the storage of fireworks is kept in a goods delivery yard, it is important to put it in a suitable place to reduce the risk of it being hit by vehicles. Access to the area surrounding the container should be controlled.
A Fire Division 4 (Orange Diamond) sign must be on the container in order that firefighters can safely identify that the container contains fireworks.
Storing and selling fireworks safely - INDG407 (hse.gov.uk) - contains a summary of the main legal requirements pertaining to storage and supply
Fireworks in shops: retailers' risk assessment checklist (hse.gov.uk)
Cabinets and storage
It is permissible to keep small quantities of fireworks in a sales area where the public have access.
Fireworks on the shop floor must be kept in a designated area, well away from sources of ignition, and as detailed in the floor plan submitted to the council. The fireworks must be stored in a display case or cabinet which staff can monitor at all times whilst the shop is open to customers. The following safety measures must be observed if you store fireworks on the shop floor:
- cabinets can only hold a maximum of 12.5kg of NEC (Net Explosive Content) per cabinet
- cabinets must be made of a material such as metal, wood, or other substantial material
- cabinets, drawers and cupboards must be enclosed on all sides and lockable.
- cabinets walls should not be made of any flimsy sheets such as PVC
- no other items should be stored in a cabinet used to store fireworks
- cabinets must not have live electrical wires inside
- appropriate signage such as a no-smoking sign must be displayed
If you intend to store or display fireworks on the shop floor, please see the table below which shows the maximum quantity of fireworks (NEC) allowed based on sales area:
| Sales area (sq m) | Maximum quantity of fireworks (NEC) |
| Up to 20 | 12.5kg |
| Up to 40 | 15kg |
| Up to 60 | 20kg |
| Up to 80 | 25kg |
| Up to 100 | 30kg |
| Up to 150 | 35kg |
| Up to 200 | 40kg |
| Up to 250 | 45kg |
| Up to 300 | 50kg |
| Up to 350 | 55kg |
| Up to 400 | 60kg |
| Up to 450 | 65kg |
| Up to 500 | 70kg |
| Over 500 | 75kg |
If you plan to store fireworks in a shop that is attached to, or part of, a building used for domestic or sleeping accommodation you must not store more than 75 kg NEC of fireworks unless specific safety precautions are in place:
- a fire detection system must be installed in the shop with a linked alarm in the domestic area, or an effective sprinkler system fitted in the firework store.
- the domestic parts of the building must have access and exit routes that are separate from those used for the firework store.
- there must be appropriate fire-resistant separation between the firework store and the domestic accommodation
- the store must be closed off and secured from the domestic part of the premises to prevent unauthorised access (including children) and also help prevent the accidental introduction of ignition sources
More information about fireworks, licensing, categories of fireworks and age restriction:
HSE Guidance - Fireworks in retail premises
HSE Guidance - pyrotechnic articles in retail and commercial premise
HSE Explosives Regulations 2014: - Safety provisions L150
Fireworks in shops: Retailers' risk assessment checklist
Application forms
Please print the appropriate form, complete it in full, and return it to the following:
Licensing team, regulatory services, Perceval House, 14-16 Uxbridge Road, Ealing W5 2HL
E-mail: licensing@ealing.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 8825 6655
- Apply for an all year round fireworks licence under the Fireworks Act 2003 and Fireworks Regulations 2000
- Application for licence to store up to 250kg explosives
- Declarations of convictions form
- Retailers risk assessment checklist (fireworks in shops)
- Storing and selling fireworks (HSE guidance)
Information for residents to safely use fireworks
Staying safe with fireworks poster (gov.uk)