Fireworks rules in Vaud: 1 August and New Year
To verify This page has 2 items that could not be confirmed on an official page. Check them yourself before relying on them:
Who can buy which fireworks, where you can set them off around Lausanne, and why a dry summer can bring a sudden ban. Holiday dates are on Public holidays in Vaud.
Key facts
- Age limits by category: F1 from 12, F2 from 16, F3 from 18. F4 is for professional use only, by people with special knowledge, and is not sold in shops (Explosives Ordinance, OExpl art. 7; CIPI).
- Lausanne: public use of fireworks is forbidden outside 1 August (Police de Lausanne).
- Drought bans: the Canton can ban all fireworks at short notice. On 28 July 2026 it banned even F1 items; the ban was lifted on 26 August 2026 (vd.ch).
- Forests: no fire in forests or within 10 m of the forest edge, except at places set up for it and if there is no risk (vd.ch; Vaud forest law, LVLFo, BLV 921.01, art. 33).
1. Categories and ages (federal rules)
Fireworks for fun are sorted into categories under the federal Explosives Ordinance (OExpl):
| Category | What | Can be sold to |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | Very low risk, e.g. table fireworks, novelties | 12 and over |
| F2 | Low risk, outdoor use in confined areas | 16 and over |
| F3 | Medium risk, outdoor use in large open spaces | 18 and over |
| F4 | Professional | licence holders only |
The age limits apply to selling, not to lighting (CIPI). The age is printed on the packaging.
- Banned in Switzerland: for example Chinese firecrackers and ground-exploding bangers (grenouilles) (CIPI).
- Bringing fireworks from abroad: F1 to F3 items allowed in Switzerland, up to 2.5 kg gross per person per day, respecting the age limits (fedpol). Do not order fireworks online without an import permit (CIPI).
- Sellers: temporary shops for 1 August and New Year need a cantonal permit from the Vaud cantonal police (vd.ch). Buy from these shops.
2. Lausanne and the EPFL area
- Lausanne: "the public use of pyrotechnic devices is forbidden outside 1 August" (Police de Lausanne). Under the general police regulation (Règlement général de police, art. 76), fireworks at public events need prior permission, and the Municipality can impose stricter rules at any time, even for private events.
- Never aim fireworks at people, animals, buildings or vehicles. Children from 10 can face criminal proceedings for injury or damage, and parents' liability can be engaged (Police de Lausanne).
- New Year's Eve in Lausanne: no exception for 31 December. The police flyer states "A Lausanne, l'usage public d'engins pyrotechniques est interdit en dehors du 1er août" (Police de Lausanne, fireworks flyer), and in parks and promenades fireworks and bangers are banned, with exceptions only for special events such as the national day (Lausanne green-space rules, DREV, art. 8).
- Ecublens, Saint-Sulpice, Chavannes-près-Renens (EPFL area) and the EPFL campus: To verify: commune police regulations and any EPFL campus rule. Check with your commune before lighting anything.
3. Drought and forest-fire bans
- Before using fireworks, check there is no general fire ban in the canton or your commune (Police de Lausanne). Communes can declare their own ban on outdoor fires for as long as they judge necessary (vd.ch).
- Summer 2026 example: on 28 July 2026, with forest-fire danger at 4 of 5, the Conseil d'État banned the sale, handing over and use of F1 fireworks everywhere, public and private, "until further notice", alongside a ban on outdoor fires. It was lifted on 26 August 2026 (vd.ch).
- Check the current danger level at vd.ch/incendies-foret or the federal forest-fire danger map. Heat and drought tips: Heat and summer health.
- Barbecues, campfires and garden fires: see Forest fires, barbecues and outdoor fires in Vaud.
4. Fines
Breaking a cantonal ban decision is punished with a fine under the Swiss Criminal Code (art. 292 CP), as stated in the 2026 decision. To verify: no fixed fine amount is published for fireworks in Vaud or Lausanne.
5. Safety
From the BPA (Swiss Council for Accident Prevention): read the instructions, keep water nearby, never relight a dud (pour water on it and take it back to the shop), launch rockets from a stable tube, and keep lighters and fireworks away from children. In an emergency call 118 (fire) or 144 (ambulance): see Emergency contacts.