Rule 120-3-22-.09. Licensing Requirements for Public Exhibitions or Displays of Fireworks, Fireworks or Pyrotechnics Exhibitions or Displays before a Proximate Audience, and the Use of Special Effects for Motion Picture and Television Production

1. (1) No person, firm, corporation, association, or partnership shall cause the combustion, explosion, deflagration, detonation, or ignition of fireworks for the purpose of a public exhibition or display of fireworks unless such person, firm, corporation, association, or partnership holds a valid license issued by the Safety Fire Commissioner in accordance with the provisions O.C.G.A. 25-10-3.2(b).

   1. (a) Each licensee or applicant for a license shall submit to the Commissioner the names and qualifications of all operators and assistants which will be participating in public exhibitions or displays of fireworks and proof of employment by said licensee or applicant for license..
   2. (b) The applicant shall provide any other information deemed necessary by the Commissioner.
   3. (c) Each license holder shall maintain any federal permit(s) or license(s) required to possess and use fireworks.

2. (2) No person, firm, corporation, association, or partnership shall cause the combustion, explosion, deflagration, detonation, or ignition of pyrotechnics for the purpose of a fireworks or pyrotechnics exhibition or display before a proximate audience unless such person, firm, corporation, association, or partnership holds a valid license issued by the Commissioner in accordance with the provisions of O.C.G.A. 25-10-3.2(a).

   1. (a) The applicant shall submit to the Commissioner proof of a valid comprehensive liability insurance policy purchased from an insurer authorized to do business in Georgia, or an insurer regulated pursuant to O.C.G.A. Title 33, Chapter 5, if insurance cannot be obtained from an insurer authorized to do business in Georgia. The coverage must include bodily injury and property damage, products liability, completed operations, and contractual liability. The minimum amount of said coverage shall be $1 million or such other amount as specified by the Commissioner.
   2. (b) Each licensee or applicant for a license shall submit to the Commissioner the names and qualifications of all operators and assistants which will be participating in fireworks or pyrotechnics exhibitions or displays before a proximate audience and proof of employment by said licensee or applicant for license.
   3. (c) The applicant shall provide any other information deemed necessary by the Commissioner.
   4. (d) Each license holder shall maintain any federal permit(s) or license(s) required to possess and use fireworks or pyrotechnics.

3. (3) No person, firm, corporation, association, or partnership shall cause the combustion, explosion, deflagration, detonation, or ignition of special effects unless such person, firm, corporation, association, or partnership holds a valid license issued by the Safety Fire Commissioner in accordance with the provisions of O.C.G.A. 25-10-3.2(c), provided that any use of special effects in which an audience is present shall require licensure pursuant to subsection O.C.G.A. 25-10-3.2(a). Any application for such a license shall be made to the Safety Fire Commissioner in the form prescribed by the Safety Fire Commissioner. The license issued pursuant to this subsection shall not authorize the manufacture, transportation, use, sale, or storage of explosives as provided for in O.C.G.A. 25-2-17(d).

   1. (a) Each licensee or applicant for a license shall submit to the Commissioner the names and qualifications of all operators and assistants which will be participating in the use of special effects and proof of employment by said licensee or applicant for license.
   2. (b) The applicant shall provide any other information deemed necessary by the Commissioner.
   3. (c) Each license holder shall maintain any federal permit(s) or license(s) required to possess and use fireworks.

   4. (d) All special effects operators shall be at least 21 years old and shall submit to the Commissioner at least one of the following:

      1. 1. Proof of the successful completion of a written examination approved and administered by the Commissioner of applicable laws, regulations, codes and standards pertaining to the transportation, storage, handling, and discharge of special effects, or
      2. 2. Licensure for the use of special effects by another state which administers a competency test accepted by the Commissioner, or

      3. 3. Other training, testing or experience acceptable to the Commissioner.

         Upon finding that an individual has met these requirements the Commissioner may issue a competency card certifying the individual's qualification as an operator or assistant for the use of special effects in motion picture and television production.

   5. (e) All special effects assistants shall be at least 18 years old and provide the Commissioner with a statement of the operator's satisfaction as to the qualifications of said assistant.

Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 25-2-4, 25-2-13, 25-2-16, 25-10-5, 33-2-9, 50-13-21.

History. Original Rule entitled "Requests for Modification of Specific Requirements" adopted. F. June 3, 1987; eff. June 25, 1987, as specified by the Agency.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. July 23, 1998; eff. August 12, 1998.

Amended: ER. 120-3-22-0.2-.09 adopted. F. and eff. June 10, 2003, the date of adoption.

Amended: ER. 120-3-22-0.3-.09 adopted. F. and eff. Oct. 8, 2003, the date of adoption.

Amended: Permanent Rule adopted. F. Jan. 16, 2004; eff. Feb. 5, 2004.

Repealed: New Rule entitled "Licensing Requirements for Distributors of Consumer Fireworks" adopted. F. July 24, 2015; eff. August 13, 2015.

Amended: New title "Licensing Requirements for Fireworks or Pyrotechnics Displays Before a Proximate Audience." F. Dec. 13, 2019; eff. Jan. 1, 2020, as specified by the Agency.

Amended: New title "Licensing Requirements for Public Exhibitions or Displays of Fireworks, Fireworks or Pyrotechnics Exhibitions or Displays before a Proximate Audience, and the Use of Special Effects for Motion Picture and Television Production." F. June 25, 2025; eff. July 15, 2025.