Fireworks and explosives

You will need a licence from Conwy County Borough Council if you sell or store explosives, including fireworks in the county of Conwy.

Fireworks and explosives must be stored safely and securely. You will need a licence from us if you store or sell fireworks to show you are fit to do so, and you will be subject to periodic inspections to ensure your premises complies with all of the legal requirements.

The type of licence you need will depend on when you intend to sell or store fireworks. Standard licences will apply if you are selling or storing fireworks or explosives during the typical fireworks seasons; however you can also apply for an all year round licence if you are planning to trade outside of these times.

We may refuse an application if we consider the storage site to be unsuitable on safety grounds, or if there is evidence to suggest the applicant is not a fit person to store fireworks or explosives.

Explosives covered by the licence

• ammunition and shooters' powders
• blasting explosives
• fireworks (pyrotechnics)
• gunpowder
• marine flares
  
  

Conditions

You must make sure that you understand, and comply with, the legal requirements of storing fireworks. These are set out in the Explosives Regulations 2014.

You don’t need a licence to store up to 5 kilograms of fireworks or explosives.

If you want to store more than 2 tonnes (2,000 kg) of explosives at one location then you’ll need to apply for a licence from the Health and Safety Executive.

Approval

We may need to do a site visit. This is usually if you want to store more than 250 kilograms of fireworks or explosives.

Selling fireworks

Fireworks can only be sold at certain times of the year:

• from 15 October to 10 November
• from 26 December to 31 December
• the first day of Chinese New Year and the 3 days before it
• the first day of Diwali and the 3 days before it

 If you want to sell fireworks outside of these dates you’ll need an all year round licence – that’s in addition to the storage licence.

An all year licence will allow you to sell fireworks all year round, outside of the dates specified.

Storing fireworks

• The Health and Safety and Nuclear Fees Regulations can be found following this link: The Health and Safety and Nuclear (Fees) Regulations 2021 (legislation.gov.uk)

Fees

Fees for keeping quantities of explosives are set by The Health and Safety and Nuclear (Fees) Regulations 2022.

Initial Licence to Store Explosives (up to 250kg NEC of fireworks)

Fee for variation, transfer, or replacement of licence: £40

Renewal of Licence to Store Explosives (up to 250kg NEC of fireworks)

Fee for variation, transfer, or replacement of licence: £40

Licence costs for storing up to 2000kg NEC of fireworks

Fee for variation, transfer, or replacement of licence: £40

Renewal costs for a licence to store up to 2000kg NEC of fireworks

Fee for variation, transfer, or replacement of licence: £40

The Firework Regulation 2004 (Regulation 9)

• £500 – All year round Fireworks Licence
  
  

Processing and Timescales

We must deal with your application within 28 days We may need to do a site visit. This is usually if you want to store more than 250 kilograms of fireworks or explosives.

Get in touch

If you need help with fireworks and explosives licences, please contact us:

• By telephone: 01492 574110
• By e-mail: trading.standards@conwy.gov.uk

You can also make your application; By appointment: from 10.00am - 12.30pm Monday to Friday

By post:

Other licences for explosives

Licences for manufacturing explosives must be obtained from the Health and Safety Executive.

Application for a Storage Licence