(a) Defined. The term "fireworks" shall mean and include any combustible or explosive composition, or any substance or combination of substances, or article prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or an audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration or detonation, and shall include blank cartridges, toy pistols, toy cannons, toy canes or toy guns in which explosives are used, the type of unmanned balloons which require fire underneath to propel the same, firecrackers, torpedos, skyrockets, Roman candles, Daygo bombs, sparklers, or other fireworks of like construction and any fireworks containing any explosive or flammable compound, or any tablets or other device containing any explosive substance, except that the term "fireworks" shall not include model rockets and model rocket engines, designed, sold and used for the purpose of propelling recoverable aero models and shall not include toy pistols, toy canes, toy guns or other devices in which paper or plastic caps manufactured in accordance with the United States Department of Transportation regulations for packing and shipping of toy paper or plastic caps are used and toy paper or plastic caps manufactured as provided therein, the sale and use of which shall be permitted at all times. Each package containing toy paper or plastic caps offered for retail sale shall be labeled to indicate the maximum explosive content per cap.
(b) Manufacture. It shall be unlawful to manufacture fireworks within Montgomery County.
(c) Possession or use. Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess, store, to offer for sale, expose for sale, sell or use, burn or explode any fireworks; provided, that the possession, sale or discharge of fireworks are permitted when such activities are conducted under a permit issued by the state fire marshal.
(d) Signal purposes, shows, etc. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the use of fireworks by railroads or other transportation agencies for signal purposes or illumination, or the sale or use of blank cartridges for a show or theatre, or for signal or ceremonial purposes in athletics or sports or for the use by military organizations.
(e) Storage. No person shall keep or store fireworks in the county for a period in excess of eight (8) hours unless such person shall have a valid permit from the state fire marshal for a display within the county and unless such storage site has been approved by the Director. (1975 L.M.C., ch. 23, § 1.)