Simi Valley Keeps Current Approach to Illegal Fireworks Enforcement |
City Council declines to add a new host-liability ordinance, citing fewer fireworks complaints and confidence in existing enforcement tools. |
Simi Valley will not move forward with a new ordinance that could hold property owners or party hosts financially responsible when illegal fireworks are discharged from their property.
The decision comes after the Ventura County Civil Grand Jury recommended that Simi Valley and several other cities consider host-liability ordinances as an additional enforcement tool. The City Council voted unanimously Aug. 19 to approve the city’s formal response to the Grand Jury report.
City officials said an added layer of civil penalties is not necessary at this time, pointing to a decline in local fireworks complaints. According to the city, complaints during June and July dropped from 535 in 2023 to 337 in 2024 and 333 in 2025.
Simi Valley previously considered a similar ordinance in 2022 but chose instead to rely primarily on existing criminal citations and police enforcement of dangerous fireworks violations.
The Grand Jury continues to identify illegal fireworks as a public-safety concern because of fire risk, noise, impacts on pets and effects on residents with post-traumatic stress disorder.
While Simi Valley rejected the host-liability recommendation, the city did support greater coordination among fire and law enforcement agencies to improve complaint response and enforcement practices.
Neighboring cities are taking different approaches, with Moorpark continuing to research a possible host-liability ordinance.
Read the full reporting and additional details in the Simi Valley Acorn. |
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Appreciate the city listening to residents. The noise is hard on some, but less this summer for sure.
Feels like overkill to go after the hosts. It’s not always their fault if guests sneak fireworks in.
Neighbor's party had illegal fireworks last year, cops came but nothing really happened. More coordination could help for sure.
Happy to see numbers going down. Maybe education is working more than new rules would.
Evan T.Yeah, agreed. The city puts out more reminders now, and people seem more aware of the risks. Maybe just sticking with what’s working is the way to go for now.
Interesting Moorpark is still considering it. Wonder if folks there are dealing with more fireworks than us.
It might help to have more patrols during the holidays. The fines didn’t stop everyone around my block.
Honestly, I think holding property owners responsible could get messy. Glad they didn’t rush it. Let’s see how things go.
I agree it's not as bad as it used to be. My dog still hates fireworks but at least July was quieter this year.