Houston adds regs for fireworks operations

HOUSTON — The city council voted to approve changes to the fireworks ordinance, effectively limiting the number of vendors in the city to the current level.

The ordinance says the city will grant permits to sell fireworks on the basis of roughly one per 3,000 residents with a minimum of four at any one time. With the population of Houston at just over 2,000, the four stands lining the Parks Highway will be the Valley’s only firework vendors for the foreseeable future.

The ordinance also imposes strict building codes requiring all the vendors to build new structures. The ordinance requires the new buildings be permanent, safer and more fire resistant.

Also at the meeting on Thursday, talks of asking the voters to approve an additional 2 percent sales tax on fireworks were postponed until the next council meeting on July 9.