Surrey Diwali Fireworks 2026: Year-Round Ban, Fines up to $50,000 and Enforcement on 8 November

Diwali fireworks laws Canada › British Columbia › Surrey

Legal information last verified: 25 October 2026. Official rules verified on the sources linked below.

Quick answer: Diwali fireworks in Surrey

• The sale, purchase and use of fireworks are prohibited throughout Surrey without federal certification and a valid Surrey Fire Service permit (Fireworks Regulation Bylaw, 1974, No. 4200). City of Surrey notice: Celebrate Safely - Fireworks Enforcement...
• Surrey names Diwali only as an enforcement date: bylaw officers will be deployed in high-activity areas on Diwali day, 8 November. City of Surrey notice: Celebrate Safely - Fireworks Enforcement...
• Fines run from a minimum of $400 to a maximum of $50,000, and each day is a separate offence. City of Surrey notice: Celebrate Safely - Fireworks Enforcement...
• Possession of fireworks by anyone under 18 is prohibited. City of Surrey notice: Celebrate Safely - Fireworks Enforcement...

Surrey's fireworks ban and Diwali

The City addresses Diwali directly. Its October 2026 notice says that leading up to Halloween and on Diwali day, November 8, bylaw officers will be deployed in high-activity areas. City of Surrey notice: Celebrate Safely - Fireworks Enforcement...

That notice is about enforcement, not an allowance. Under Bylaw No. 4200 the sale, purchase and use of fireworks are not permitted in Surrey without federal certification and a valid permit, so an ordinary household cannot set off fireworks on Diwali. City of Surrey notice: Celebrate Safely - Fireworks Enforcement...

The City's fines notice explains that council increased fireworks fines ahead of Halloween and Diwali. City of Surrey news: Surrey council increases fireworks fines... The current figures are a minimum fine of $400 and a maximum of $50,000, with each day of an offence treated as a separate violation. City of Surrey notice: Celebrate Safely - Fireworks Enforcement...

Permits for certified displays

Surrey Fire Services' Fire Prevention Branch issues fireworks and pyrotechnics permits only for displays. Every handler needs a Natural Resources Canada Fireworks Operator card, and the application needs written permission from the property owner and from the owner of neighbouring land where debris may fall, $2 million of liability insurance and at least 5 business days' notice. City of Surrey: Fireworks & Pyrotechnics (Surrey Fire Services...

A gurdwara, mandir or community group that wants fireworks for Diwali or Bandi Chhor Divas should therefore hire a certified display company and apply early, rather than relying on volunteers with store-bought fireworks.

Fireworks bought in the United States are a common problem: Natural Resources Canada says many fireworks sold in the US are not authorized in Canada, and bringing consumer fireworks into Canada needs an import permit. Buying and using consumer fireworks safely and legally

What the official sources say about Surrey

Each point below is taken from the official source linked after it. Read the source itself before you rely on it.

• Sale, purchase and use of fireworks prohibited city-wide without certification and permits. City of Surrey notice: Celebrate Safely - Fireworks Enforcement...
• Bylaw requires federal certification and a valid Surrey Fire Service permit. City of Surrey notice: Celebrate Safely - Fireworks Enforcement...
• Under-18 possession prohibited. City of Surrey notice: Celebrate Safely - Fireworks Enforcement...
• Fines: minimum $400, maximum $50,000; each day a separate offence. City of Surrey notice: Celebrate Safely - Fireworks Enforcement...
• Diwali named only as an enforcement date (Nov 8), not as an allowance. City of Surrey notice: Celebrate Safely - Fireworks Enforcement...
• Permits only for displays by NRCan-certified operators, with owner and neighbour written permission, $2M insurance, 5 business days notice. City of Surrey: Fireworks & Pyrotechnics (Surrey Fire Services...
• To report fireworks, the City says to call Surrey Bylaws at 604-591-4370. City of Surrey notice: Celebrate Safely - Fireworks Enforcement...

Provincial and federal rules that also apply

British Columbia's own Fireworks Act applies only in municipalities that adopt it by bylaw and in designated rural areas. Where a city has its own fireworks bylaw, as this one does, the city bylaw is the rule to follow. For context, the provincial points are:

• The provincial Fireworks Act applies only in municipalities that adopt it by bylaw and in rural areas designated by regulation. Fireworks Act, RSBC 1996, c. 146
• Where the Act applies, fireworks may be sold, given or set off only between October 24 and November 1. Fireworks Act, RSBC 1996, c. 146
• BC Wildfire Service campfire prohibitions often also prohibit fireworks and sky lanterns; orders usually apply outside municipalities. Fire Prohibitions and Restrictions (BC Wildfire Service, gov.bc.ca)
• BCWS advises checking local government authorities for other restrictions. Fire Prohibitions and Restrictions (BC Wildfire Service, gov.bc.ca)

Diwali 2026 dates and the fireworks rules

HinduTone's Drik Panchang-aligned calendar for Canada lists Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) as Sunday 8 November 2026, with Dhanteras on Friday 6 November and Bhai Dooj on Tuesday 10 November. The City itself uses 8 November as Diwali day in its enforcement notice, and the ban applies on that day and throughout Diwali week.

Key rules in Surrey at a glance

What we could not verify

These points are still open. Do not treat them as settled until the official authority confirms them:

• The permit fee in Bylaw No. 4200; we did not read the full bylaw.
• Any separate rule on fireworks in public parks and school grounds.

Diwali fireworks safety tips for Surrey

• Never go back to a firework that has failed to go off. Leave it well alone, then soak it in water once it is safe to approach.
• Keep children well back and hand them nothing that is lit. Sparklers stay hot long after the spark ends.
• Check for a fire ban or dry-weather warning on the day. A ban can be announced at short notice and overrides the normal rules.
• Keep a bucket of water or a hose ready, and soak every spent firework before it goes into the bin.
• Buy only from a licensed or registered seller in the jurisdiction where you will use the fireworks, and keep the packaging so the product category and instructions stay with it.

Lawful ways to celebrate Diwali without fireworks

• Clay diyas: a row of oil lamps at the door and windows is the heart of Deepavali and needs no permit. Stand each one on a metal plate or a tray of sand.
• LED diyas and string lights: battery diyas are safe for balconies, dormitories, rented flats and anywhere open flames are restricted.
• Rangoli: a coloured-powder, rice-flour or flower rangoli at the entrance welcomes Lakshmi and gives children a creative part in the festival.
• Temple and community celebrations: most Hindu temples and community associations hold Lakshmi Puja, aarti and cultural programmes during Diwali week; check their own website or notice board for the 2026 schedule.
• Authorised public displays: a professional display run under a permit or licence gives the family a fireworks moment without the legal risk.
• Quiet celebrations: music, bhajans, a diya-lit dinner or a lantern walk on your own property avoid noise complaints and fire risk.

Who to contact

For the current rules, contact Surrey Fire Services Fire Prevention Branch (permits); Surrey Bylaws 604-591-4370 (complaints): official page. For an emergency, call your local emergency number.

Frequently asked questions

Are fireworks allowed in Surrey on Diwali?

No. Surrey prohibits the sale, purchase and use of fireworks without federal certification and a permit, and the City says bylaw officers will patrol high-activity areas on Diwali day, 8 November.

What is the fine for fireworks in Surrey?

The City says the minimum fine is $400 and the maximum is $50,000, and each day an offence occurs is a separate violation.

Can teenagers carry fireworks in Surrey?

No. Possession of fireworks by anyone under 18 is prohibited.

How can a temple hold a Diwali fireworks display in Surrey?

Through a display run by NRCan-certified operators with a Surrey Fire Services permit, owner and neighbour written permission, $2 million insurance and at least 5 business days' notice.

How do I report illegal fireworks in Surrey?

Call Surrey Bylaws at 604-591-4370.

Important

This page is general information, not legal advice; local rules and temporary fire bans can change. Always check with the official authority for your exact address before buying or using fireworks.

Editor's note (25 October 2026): HinduTone checked the Surrey rules on this page against the official sources linked above. We review this guide every year before Diwali; the next scheduled review is 15 September 2027. If you are an official and see an error, please contact us so we can correct it.

Related guides

• Diwali fireworks laws in Canada
• Diwali fireworks rules in British Columbia
• Abbotsford fireworks ban
• Burnaby fireworks rules
• Diwali 2026 in Canada: Lakshmi Puja muhurat city by city