Each year seems to bring tighter restrictions on the sale and setting off (discharging) of fireworks. While not applicable to professionally managed pyrotechnical performances, neighbors should be aware of the new Whatcom County and City of Ferndale laws. Depending on where you live in or around Ferndale, one or the other will apply.
Within the Ferndale city limits
New restrictions within the City of Ferndale went into effect September 2015 and restrict sales of ‘Type C’ (consumer grade) fireworks from July 1st to July 4th. But fireworks can only be discharged from 9am to midnight of July 4th.
| Date | Sales | Discharge |
| July 1st | 9am-11pm | – |
| July 2nd | 9am-11pm | – |
| July 3rd | 9am-11pm | – |
| July 4th | 9am-11pm | 9am-12am |
| July 5th | – | – |
In unincorporated areas of Whatcom County
Last year, an ordinance passed by the Whatcom County Council added a “Period of Use” section to the Whatcom County Code section 5.20 (Fireworks) which restricts legally discharging fireworks in unincorporated areas of the county to July 3rd to July 5th. Specifically, the hours allowed are:
July 3rd from 6pm to 11pm
July 4th from 6pm to midnight
July 5th from 6pm to 11pm