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Rancho Cordova issued more than $170,000 in citations for illegal fireworks violations during the Fourth of July holiday.
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According to city spokesperson Maria Kniestedt, law enforcement officers issued 46 citations for illegal fireworks, compared with 47 citations that resulted in $39,000 in fines during 2025.
Each illegal firework that is launched is considered a separate violation under a new ordinance the Rancho Cordova City Council passed in March, leading to a sharp increase in the total amount of fines.
Any fireworks violation within city limits, including using fireworks that explode or become airborne, is subject to a $1,000 fine per violation or up to six months in jail. A violation on school grounds is subject to a $10,000 fine or up to six months in jail.
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That means someone who launches 50 illegal fireworks could face $50,000 in fines, Russell Ducharme, director of the city’s Neighborhood Services Department, previously told The Bee. Previously, fines for illegal fireworks started at $1,000 per incident, not per illegal firework.
Kniestedt said the city recorded most illegal fireworks activity on the Fourth of July, rather than in the days leading up to the holiday as in previous years. She said reports of illegal fireworks also decreased, dropping 50% on the city’s app and 10% on the Rancho Cordova Police Department’s non-emergency line.
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