Council rejects new fireworks penalties

Simi Valley residents won't face new civil penalties for fireworks set off on their property — at least not anytime soon. The Simi Valley City Council voted unanimously on Aug. 19 to reject a Ventura County Civil Grand Jury recommendation that the city adopt a host-liability ordinance targeting illegal fireworks, instead standing by its existing enforcement approach as complaint numbers continue to fall.

The decision, reported by the Simi Valley Acorn, authorizes Mayor Dee Dee Cavanaugh to submit the city's formal response to Ventura County Superior Court, closing out — for now — the latest chapter in a years-long debate over how the city should handle the annual surge of illegal fireworks around the Fourth of July.

What the Grand Jury recommended — and why the city said no

The Civil Grand Jury issued its report June 23 after examining how cities and law enforcement agencies across Ventura County respond to fireworks complaints. Among its recommendations: that Simi Valley, Moorpark, Camarillo, Ojai and Thousand Oaks develop host-liability ordinances if they don't already have them. Such ordinances can hold property owners, tenants or people hosting gatherings civilly responsible when illegal fireworks are discharged from their property, imposing fines even if the property owner didn't light the fuse themselves.

Simi Valley city officials pushed back, arguing the extra layer of civil penalties isn't warranted — and pointing to data showing complaints have declined sharply. The city recorded 535 fireworks complaints in June and July 2023. That dropped to 337 over the same period in 2024 and 333 in 2025, according to the city's formal response.

"The (council) did not believe that creating an additional layer of civil penalties directed at social hosts was necessary to address the illegal use of fireworks," the city wrote in its response. The city also disagreed with the Grand Jury's finding that complaints hadn't decreased despite public education efforts by law enforcement, the fire department and the District Attorney's Office.

A familiar debate for Simi Valley

This isn't the first time the idea has landed before the council. Simi Valley considered a similar ordinance in 2022 that would have prohibited the possession, sale and discharge of fireworks and included a social host-liability provision. The council declined to introduce it, instead directing the Simi Valley Police Department to focus on dangerous fireworks violations and use existing criminal citations as its primary enforcement tool.

The Grand Jury's report highlighted why the issue persists: fireworks remain difficult to investigate. Even with drones as a new tool, the activity may have stopped before officers arrive, those responsible may have left, or callers may lack enough information to identify where the fireworks came from.

Simi Valley Police Chief Steve Shorts said the department now operates 10 drones, all GPS-equipped, with seven featuring thermal imaging. The department has no pending requests or plans to add drones in 2027, Shorts said.

The city did agree with one Grand Jury recommendation: greater coordination among agencies. Simi Valley supports regular meetings between the Ventura County Fire Department and the Ventura County Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee to develop best practices for responding to complaints and enforcing fireworks rules.

The safety stakes

The Grand Jury described fireworks as a continuing public safety concern, citing noise, fire danger, frightened or lost pets, and effects on people with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The numbers back up the concern. From 2023 through 2025, the Ventura County Fire Department responded to 107 fire calls in which fireworks were a contributing factor, according to the report. In June 2024, a fireworks-sparked fire in Simi Valley burned nearly five acres and required 11 fire trucks, two helicopters and a bulldozer to bring under control — a vivid local reminder of what's at stake in a city bordered by dry hillside open space.

Under California law, "dangerous" fireworks — including rockets, Roman candles and firecrackers — are prohibited statewide. Local governments can permit "safe and sane" fireworks that meet state standards. Fillmore is the only Ventura County city that allows their sale and discharge, and only during specified dates. Fireworks are otherwise prohibited throughout the county.

Where Simi Valley's neighbors stand

Simi Valley's response mirrors Thousand Oaks', but diverges from Moorpark, where officials are actively researching a host-liability ordinance. According to the Acorn's reporting, Moorpark and the Ventura County Sheriff's Office began researching the idea in early 2026 and drafted a proposal in April. It's awaiting city attorney review and could return to the Moorpark City Council in fall 2026.

Elsewhere in the county, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula and Ventura already have host-liability ordinances on the books — meaning property owners there can be fined for fireworks discharged from their premises.

What it means for residents

For Simi Valley homeowners, the council's decision means no new liability for fireworks lit on their property by guests or others. For residents frustrated by illegal fireworks, enforcement will continue through existing channels: police citations for dangerous fireworks violations, supported by drone patrols during peak season.

The declining complaint numbers — down roughly 38% from 2023 to 2025 — suggest current enforcement and education efforts are having some effect, though officials acknowledge enforcement challenges remain. Whether those trends hold through future Fourth of July seasons, or whether a future council revisits host liability as Moorpark is doing now, will likely depend on the numbers in the years ahead.