If you've got plans to light off fireworks to ring in the new year, be sure you know the new Omaha city ordinance about fireworks on New Year's Eve.
Those wanting to light up the sky can only do so from 5:00 PM on New Year's Eve until 1:00 AM on New Year's Day. The city council passed an ordinance in August that shortened the window down to eight hours. Previously, Omahans could light off fireworks in the three days leading up to New Year's.
If you are caught lighting off fireworks outside of that eight hour time frame, it will cost you $300 for a first offense. Fireworks are also not allowed to be sold within city limits, but for those wanting to buy them, they will be for sale over the weekend in Papillion and Council Bluffs.
Firework discharges are not allowed for the holiday in Lincoln, Ralston, La Vista. You can light them off on New Year's Eve in Omaha (5:00 PM -1:00 AM), Council Bluffs (Noon - 12:30 AM), Papillion (8:00 AM - 10:00 PM Saturday and Sunday. 8:00 AM - Midnight New Year's Eve) and Bellevue (9:00 PM - 12:30 AM).
If you would rather leave the explosives to the professionals, there is the New Year’s Eve fireworks show downtown. This will be the last year for the event before the Gene Leahy Mall renovation next year.