Fireworks in Brunswick County on New Year’s Eve: N.C. law allows only sparklers
Fireworks that fly into the air or explode are illegal in Brunswick County on New Year’s Eve, as on every other day of the year. North Carolina law, G.S. 14-414, allows only sparklers and ground or hand-held sparkling devices that do not explode, spin or fly. Beach towns can be stricter: Sunset Beach bans fireworks and sparklers on the beach.
The rule matters on the Grand Strand because the state line is so close. Aerial fireworks are legal to buy and use in South Carolina, a short drive from Calabash, Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle Beach. Bringing them back into North Carolina does not make them legal to set off there.
What fireworks are legal in North Carolina?
North Carolina keeps a short list of exceptions to its ban on pyrotechnics. Under G.S. 14-414, the legal items include:
- wire sparklers of up to 100 grams each;
- hand-held or ground sparkling devices that do not explode, spin or move on their own, of up to 75 grams per tube and 200 grams in total;
- snakes, smoke devices and snappers or poppers.
Anything that flies, explodes, spins across the ground or shoots into the air is not on the list. That includes bottle rockets, Roman candles, firecrackers and the aerial cakes sold in South Carolina.
What are the rules in the Brunswick County beach towns?
Each island adds its own rule. These are the ones with an official source as of Nov. 2, 2026:
| Town | What is allowed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Holden Beach | Sparklers only, anywhere on the island | Town of Holden Beach |
| Sunset Beach | No fireworks or sparklers on the beach | Sunset Beach Beach Rule 9 |
| Rest of Brunswick County | Sparklers and ground devices that don't fly or explode | N.C. G.S. 14-414 |
For Ocean Isle Beach and Oak Island, we have not yet found the town ordinance on fireworks. Our New Year’s Eve guide marks them as “not confirmed” until we can cite the town’s own rule. Until then, the state law applies there as everywhere in North Carolina: sparklers and ground devices only.
How is this different from South Carolina?
South Carolina allows consumer fireworks statewide for buyers 16 and older, per the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. Even there, cities set limits: Myrtle Beach allows fireworks only on private property, until 12:30 a.m. on New Year’s Eve, and bans them on the beach, per the City of Myrtle Beach. North Myrtle Beach bans them in city limits, per the City of North Myrtle Beach.
| North Carolina (Brunswick County) | South Carolina (Horry County) | |
|---|---|---|
| Aerial and exploding fireworks | Illegal | Legal for buyers 16+, unless a city or owner bans them |
| Sparklers and ground fountains | Legal within size limits | Legal |
| Beach use | Set by each town | Set by each town; banned in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach |
Can I watch a fireworks show in Brunswick County?
Licensed public displays are handled separately from consumer fireworks. When a Brunswick County town or venue announces a New Year’s Eve 2026 show, our New Year’s Eve guide will list it with the time and the official source.
What should I do with fireworks I bought in South Carolina?
Use them only where they are legal, or keep them. Setting off aerial fireworks in Brunswick County breaks state law, and the beach towns’ rules are stricter still. If you see illegal fireworks, call the non-emergency line of the town’s police department or the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. Use 911 only for an emergency.
Who to contact
- State law: N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-414
- Holden Beach: ordinance summary
- Sunset Beach: beach rules (PDF)
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Questions and answers
- Are fireworks legal in Brunswick County, N.C., on New Year's Eve?
- Only sparklers and ground or hand-held sparkling devices that do not explode, spin or fly, under N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-414. Aerial and exploding fireworks are illegal year-round.
- Can you use sparklers on Holden Beach?
- Yes. Holden Beach prohibits all fireworks except sparklers anywhere on the island, per the town's ordinance summary.
- Can you use sparklers on the beach at Sunset Beach?
- No. Sunset Beach Beach Rule 9 bans fireworks and sparklers on the beach.
- Can I bring fireworks from South Carolina into North Carolina?
- Buying them in South Carolina does not make them legal to set off in North Carolina. Fireworks that fly or explode are illegal to use under N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-414.