Guide to Holiday Related Laws in the Los Angeles area

Maybe the best perk of holidays in Southern California is the (usually) easing of parking enforcement!

1. Official Holidays

What are the official holidays in Los Angeles?

“Official holidays” or “legal holidays” generally refers to the holidays designated for government workers to have the day off. They generally do not involve any requirements for private sector companies.

There are slightly different official holiday calendars for the federal government versus the California state government. Also, each city and county has its own holidays.

2. Fireworks

Are fireworks allowed in the city of L.A.?

Nope (including “safe and sane” fireworks). It is illegal to sell, purchase, or use ANY type of fireworks or firecracker within the city of Los Angeles unless you have a special permit. You could face up to a fine of $1,000 or 6 months in jail for setting off even small fireworks.¹LAMC 57.5608.1.2

The ban applies throughout the year.

Are fireworks allowed outside the city of LA?

Most cities in Southern California ban all fireworks unless you have a special permit. These include Santa Monica, Pasadena, Malibu, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Culver City, Burbank, Glendale, and others. But some cities in California do allow individuals to buy and use certain types of fireworks, called “safe and sane” fireworks. But only licensed retailers may sell them, and only from June 28 – July 6 each year.²California Health & Safety Code 12599

“Dangerous fireworks,” including large items such as rockets and sparklers longer than 10 inches or larger than 1/4 inch in diameter, are always illegal unless you have a special license.³California Health & Safety Code 12677

See more at the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

3. Halloween

Is Silly String illegal on Halloween?

Few people know this one, but you can be fined $1,000 for using canned silly string in public in Hollywood from Oct 31 12am through noon on Nov 1.⁴LAMC 56.02 In the rest of LA it’s not specifically banned, but using silly string in certain ways might constitute vandalism or other illegal activity, which is not OK.

4. Parking on Holidays

Are parking laws enforced on holidays? 

In most cities, parking laws are relaxed on certain holidays. See more details for the city of Los Angeles and nearby cities at our Guide to Holiday Parking Laws page.

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