Florida Fireworks Laws You Should Know

With July 4 coming up, those pop up fireworks tents are opening daily. What are the Florida fireworks laws? Are they legal? When can you light them? What can get you fined?

Yes. Those fireworks you see at those roadside tents? Those are ok according to the state of Florida. But there are some catches. First, no kids should touch them. You must be of at least 18 years of age to use fireworks.

Also, you can't just light fireworks up whenever you like. There are only three days when it's ok to set off fireworks in Florida. Obviously the 4th of July is the big one. The other two? New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. If you have leftovers on July 5, you're going to need to stash them away until December.

That said, there are things like sparklers and smoke bombs. Those you can use anytime because they're not considered fireworks. According Fox 35, the state of Florida considers fireworks to be "combustible or explosive composition or substance or combination of substances prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or audible effect."

Then there was always that crazy loophole. Floridians over the years have signed that silly waiver saying they're purchasing fireworks for "agricultural use." To get around the fireworks rules, you could utilize the loophole in Florida law and pretend you're lighting up the sky to scare birds away or trying to protect your fish hatcheries.

Although fireworks are legal in Florida, some cities have their own laws so it's a good idea to call your local officials. For example, Belleair Beach and Clearwater have ordinances banning personal fireworks on the beach, according to Fox 13.

Taking your family to a beautiful Florida beach can be so much fun and very relaxing. But what kills the fun almost immediately is when you can't find parking anywhere. Driving around in circles only to see that every lot is full can really get you down. But then there's a glimmer of hope when several parking lots where you can pay to park. Paying $5 or even $10 doesn't seem too bad when you have a car full of kids screaming "Are we there yet?" However, the cost of parking at Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach has skyrocketed over the years. If you want to know where the best free or cheap beach parking is look no further.

Our biggest tip for finding free parking at one of the most famous beaches in Tampa Bay is to go early. That might not be ideal if you're traveling from far away but trust us, it's worth it. You're not going to deal with the hassle of fighting for parking with every other family. And if you are fighting for parking the worst part is you'll just be following the same cars from street to street hoping for a spot to open up. Which is unlikely because once you get to the beach you're not leaving for a while. The perfect time to get a free parking spot at the beach arriving between 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. which might seem too early, but you'll thank us later. For all available free beach access in St. Pete click HERE. And if you need to find free beach access in Clearwater click HERE.

Parking prices have gotten outrageously expensive. We've seen reports that some parking prices on holiday weekends like Mother's Day charge as much as $70! One mom was extremely upset about the hike in prices saying, "Don’t go to Madeira beach, they just raised their prices again for parking. I paid $70 to park there on Mother’s Day and it was ridiculous." Again, you can find free parking but that's first come first serve so if you don't want to pay that expensive fee make sure you get there extra early. See our options below for affordable parking in Tampa Bay by scrolling down.

Fort Desoto Beach is absolutely beautiful peaceful beach that's a great option. Last time we went it was anywhere between $5-$8 per car for parking. Either way that's a steal compared to other areas that are charging an arm and a leg.

Entrance to the park is free and parking only costs $5 per day. However, they are closed on certain holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. They open daily at 7 a.m. and close at sunset. Great option for families.

Another option you might like is Honeymoon Island. Last time we went it was only $8 for per car and very relaxing. That is way more affordable than $70 at other beaches. Definitely worth the drive to check it out.

Life hack for you! Park behind the shops, where residents live, there’s always parking, and no one tows. Yes, it’s slightly further of a walk, but it’s really not that far, maybe extra 5 minutes of walking, but it’s free parking.

There's several areas there that are hourly and it only costs $2 an hour. You can find the location on the Parkmobile app. Check before you go are on your way there. Again, get there early.