Shooting Fireworks In Norway (Detailed Guide)

One of the biggest things about celebrating New Year’s Eve in Norway is the shooting of the fireworks. Fireworks are usually completely banned for private citizens in Norway, but there’s an exempt to the law for New Year’s Eve.

There are strict rules and regulations that you must adhere to if you want to shoot fireworks in Norway, so let’s take a closer look at when and how to legally shoot fireworks on New Year’s Eve in Norway.

You are only allowed to shoot fireworks in Norway on New Year’s Eve between 18:00 and 02:00. Only repeater fireworks is allowed, and must be fired up by adults over the age of 18.

That’s the major regulations, but there are also many smaller details to be aware of, such as where you can shoot it up, what type of fireworks you can use, and how to buy and store the fireworks.

We are obviously going to take a closer look, teaching you all there is to know about shooing up fireworks.

When to shoot fireworks in Norway

You can generally shoot up firework anytime you want between December 31 18:00 (6PM) and January 1 02:00 (2AM).

This gives you an 8 hour window to get your fireworks shot up, but most people are going to light it all up between 23:55 and 00:05. This is the time when everyone shoots their fireworks, and the sky will light up in all the different colors.

It’s technically illegal to fire up fireworks outside of these hours, but there will always be someone who does so in the days leading up to New Year’s Eve. So don’t be too surprised if you hear or see fireworks in the few days before December 31.

Where to shoot fireworks

There are no national laws regarding where you can and cannot shoot fireworks, but the municipality might choose to implement a “no fireworks” zone.

These zones are typically in place to prevent fire hazards, and it’s actually somewhat common that municipalities have a no firework zone inside the city center.

So if you’re planning on shooting up your own fireworks, check out your municipality’s website to see if they have a zone where you cannot light fireworks from.

But other than that, you are free to shoot up fireworks anywhere where you deem it to be appropriate. Many people light the fireworks in their yards just outside their house, but it’s advised to be at least 15 meters from any buildings.

Remember that you are responsible for the damages the fireworks might cause if it sets fire to a house or something else, so it’s best to be on the safe side it light it up at a reasonable place.

The municipality might offer a public fireworks display

It’s worth mentioning that it’s getting more and more common that the municipality offers a big public display of fireworks, especially if they have a “no fireworks” zone.

The idea behind these are that it’s much safer for the municipality to just light it all up themselves instead of having so many different citizens handling explosives themselves (especially since many of them will be drunk).

So again, check the website of the municipality you will be in on New Year’s Eve to see if they offer a fireworks show. These tend to have a high standard and are a lot of fun.

How to buy fireworks in Norway

You can buy fireworks in Norway from December 27 and until New Year’s Eve from special fireworks vendors that tend to pop up in shipping containers close to most grocery stores. Most small towns will have them, and you’re likely to find it at your local grocery store.

Just head to one of these during the few days where they are allowed to sell fireworks, and buy as much as you desire. But keep in mind that you still need to adhere to the laws that dictates when you can shoot it up even if you own it.

Only adults that are 18 years or older are allowed to buy and light up fireworks.

Here’s a more detailed guide on buying fireworks in Norway for those of you who want more information.

What types of fireworks to use

Norway has strict laws that dictate what type of fireworks are allowed to be shot up, and which are banned. The government completely banned all skyrocket fireworks in 2008 due to the number of injuries from them, and the main type of fireworks allowed in Norway are the type called repeater fireworks (or batteri in Norwegian).

These are all inside containers that must be lit from the outside, and they will then shoot up multiple firework rockets from the base.

That said, you don’t really need to worry. It’s illegal to sell fireworks that are illegal to shoot, so you can fire up all the fireworks that you will find for sale in Norway.

You are urged to use safety glasses when lighting up the fireworks, but you are technically not legally required to.

Sparklers for children over 12

Sparklers are allowed for anyone over the age of 12, and are any type of fireworks that uses sparklers instead of gunpowder. These can be a lot of fun, and are far from as dangerous as regular fireworks.

But they can still cause small burns, so handle them responsibly.

Frequently asked questions about fireworks in Norway