Label
Special Event Safety Zones
Mayors Office and Department of Law
Austin Mack, George Kral, John Madigan x1020
Revised 6/18/26
Title
Authorizing a Temporary Independence Day Fireworks Safety Zone from July 4, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. through July 5, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.; establishing youth supervision requirements and enforcement provisions; and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
The City of Toledo annually hosts an Independence Day celebration and fireworks-related activities that attract significant numbers of residents and visitors. This event, while beneficial to the community, can present elevated public safety concerns due to high crowd density and requires flexible, event-specific public safety measures.
The purpose of this Ordinance is to establish a temporary Independence Day Fireworks Safety Zone for the July 4, 2026 holiday period in order to support safe, family-friendly public events, reinforce parental responsibility for minors attending these large public gatherings, and provide law enforcement with event-specific public safety tools for this time period.
This Ordinance applies only during the period beginning July 4, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. and ending July 5, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. and shall expire automatically thereafter. It is in the best interest of the City of Toledo to authorize the Mayor, in coordination with event organizers, the Toledo Police Department, and other public safety officials, to establish temporary boundaries and operational measures necessary to protect public safety during our Independence Day celebration.
Summary
NOW THEREFORE Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That a Temporary Independence Day Fireworks Safety Zone is hereby authorized for the period beginning July 4, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. and ending July 5, 2026 at 6:00 a.m., subject to the provisions set forth herein.
Definitions
For purposes of this Ordinance:
(a) “Independence Day Fireworks Safety Zone" means a temporary geographically defined area designated by the Mayor for Independence Day celebrations, fireworks viewing, crowd management, and public safety operations including adjacent pedestrian corridors, gathering spaces, and event-support areas necessary for public safety operations.
(b) “Minor” means any person under eighteen (18) years of age.
Authority to Establish an Independence Day Fireworks Safety Zone
(a) The Mayor of the City of Toledo is hereby authorized, in coordination with event organizers, the Division of Police, and other public safety officials, to designate an Independence Day Fireworks Safety Zone necessary to protect public safety during the 2026 Independence Day celebrations.
(b) That in the time period outlined in Section 1, the Mayor shall have authority to establish:
• Geographic boundaries of the Zone;
• Reasonable public safety rules and operational restrictions necessary to protect public health and safety.
Scope and Duration
The Independence Day Fireworks Safety Zone established under this Ordinance shall:
• Be temporary in nature;
• Exist only from July 4, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. through July 5, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.
• Be limited to designated geographic areas reasonably necessary for crowd management and public safety operations; and
• Automatically terminate upon expiration of the time period established herein.
Youth Supervision Requirement
(a) Within the Independence Day Fireworks Safety Zone, no Minor shall remain within the Zone unless accompanied by:
• A parent or legal guardian; or
• An adult twenty-one (21) years of age or older who has been expressly designated by the parent or legal guardian.
(b) During the Temporary Independence Day Fireworks Safety Zone, unaccompanied Minors are prohibited from remaining within the established area.
Enforcement
(a) Any group of four or more unaccompanied Minors found within Independence Day Fireworks Safety Zone may be directed by law enforcement or authorized city personnel to exit the Zone.
(b) Reasonable efforts shall be made to notify a parent, legal guardian, or authorized adult.
(c) Re-entry into the Independence Day Fireworks Safety Zone shall not be permitted for unaccompanied Minors.
Violation, Penalties
(a) No parent, legal guardian, custodian or person in control of a Minor shall recklessly permit the minor to enter or remain in the Independence Day Fireworks Safety Zone.
(b) No minor shall recklessly fail or refuse to exit the Independence Day Fireworks Safety Zone after reasonable warning or request to exit.
(c) In addition to other penalties, civil penalties of $250.00 for a first offense and $500.00 for a second offense may be imposed on a parent, legal guardian or custodian of a Minor where a Minor, while within the Independence Day Fireworks Safety Zone, engages in aggravated or illegal conduct that poses a risk to public safety. Such conduct may include, but is not limited to:
• Participation in disorderly or disruptive crowd activity;
• Failure to comply with lawful dispersal orders;
• Possession of alcohol, marijuana, other illegal substances, or a weapon;
• Assaultive or violent behavior.
(d) Whoever violates subsections (a) or (b) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor fourth degree.
Appeal, Civil Penalty
(a) Notice of a Civil penalty shall be mailed to the person deemed to be the parent, guardian, or custodian of the minor violating this Chapter. The notice shall state the date, time and location with regards to the violation, as well as include the fines(s) assessed. The notice shall be from the Chief of Police or the Chief’s designated representative.
(b) Any person provided notice may appeal, in writing, to the Safety Director within ten (10) business days of the date indicated in the notice. The appeal must include the reasons for contesting and/or objecting to the notice and/or fee, and must include the name, address, telephone number and notarized signature of the person submitting the appeal. The appeal may be responded to within ten (10) business days, by the Safety Director (or the Safety Director’s designee) or, in the alternative, a hearing shall be scheduled on the matter. The hearing shall be before the Safety Director (or the Safety Director’s designated Hearing Officer), the Law Director (or the Law Director’s designee), and the Public Service Director. The appellant shall attend the hearing. The Safety Director (or the Safety Director’s designated Hearing Officer) shall issue a ruling on the appeal, after a hearing, within seven (7) business days after the hearing. The Safety Director (or the Safety Director’s designated Hearing Officer) may uphold, cancel or modify the fine assessed.
SECTION 2. Severability If any section, subsection, sentence, or provision of this Ordinance is held invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining sections, which shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 3. That it is found and determined that all formal actions of Council concerning and relating to the passage of this Ordinance were adopted in an open meeting of Council and that all deliberations of Council and any of its committees that result in such formal action were in meetings open to the public in compliance with all legal requirements, including Section 121.22, Ohio Revised Code.
SECTION 4. Declaration of Emergency This Ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, and welfare of the City of Toledo and its residents. It shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas 12, nays 0.
Passed: June 23, 2026, as an emergency measure: yeas 12, nays 0.
Attest:
Julie A. Gibbons Vanice S. Williams
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: June 24, 2026
Wade Kapszukiewicz
Mayor