Fireworks and explosives storage licence

To store up to 2,000 kilograms (kg) of fireworks, you’ll need to apply to us for an explosives storage licence.

To store more, you’ll need to seek advice from:

• Health and Safety Executive
• London Fire Brigade

Legal requirements

There are legal requirements regarding the storage and sale of fireworks.

It’s an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to:

• sell fireworks by retail without a licence
• store fireworks unsafely

You cannot sell fireworks:

• to anyone under the age of 18 years
• in the street or in any public place
• not remove or alter the manufacturer’s name and address on fireworks
• not keep Bengal matches with fireworks
• store and sell paper caps, throwdowns and sparklers as fireworks

In addition, you must:

Offences and penalties

The maximum penalty is a fine and 2 years’ imprisonment for:

• storing explosives without a licence
• an offence connected with the unsafe storage of explosives

The maximum penalty is a fine and 3 months imprisonment for supplying a:

• category F2 or F3 firework to any person under 18
• category F1 firework to any person under 16

Enforcement

We carry out rigorous enforcement of these laws, particularly during the designated fireworks selling period.

This includes carrying out underage test purchases.

We may also revoke explosives licences.

When you can sell fireworks

Generally, you can only sell fireworks to the public during the following periods:

• 15 October to 10 November
• 26 to 31 December
• on the first day of the Chinese new year and the 3 days immediately before it
• on the day of Diwali and the 3 days immediately before it

If you want to sell fireworks at any other time, you need to get an annual fireworks sellers' licence in addition to the storage licence.

Licence fees

Licence fees are dependent on the:

• length of licence
• weight of fireworks (explosives) you plan to store

New licence

Renewal of existing licence

Other fees

How to apply

To apply for a licence to store and sell explosives, including fireworks, you need to:

1. Read our guidance on the storage and sale of fireworks.

2. Download, complete and return the application form.

3. include a cheque for the relevant fee amount payable to Royal Borough of Greenwich.

After you apply

If we’re satisfied with your application, we’ll register you. We will not usually visit your premises before granting a registration.

This registration runs until 30 September of each year.

You need to renew every year if you want to continue to sell fireworks unless you have a 2-year registration.

Guidance and legislation

Our guidance above on storing and selling fireworks summarises the legal requirements of the Explosives Regulations 2014, which you must follow.

Other guidance is available from the Health and Safety Executive website.

• Storing and selling fireworks
• Guidance on Explosives Regulations - Safety Provisions
• Guidance on Explosives Regulations - Security Provisions
• Explosives Regulations 2014

Full details of Explosives Regulations 2014 are available on the GOV.UK legislation website:

Find out more about firework safety from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents