BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The city of Bakersfield is expected to start developing a new ordinance that would hold property owners responsible for any illegal fireworks activity that takes place on their property.
At the end of the Bakersfield City Council meeting Wednesday, Council member Larry Koman asked city staff to prepare a draft of the “social host” ordinance.
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The law, if considered and approved by City Council, would hold the property owner or host of a gathering accountable for illegal fireworks on the property, even if they weren’t present or had no knowledge of it.
They would then get a civil infraction, according to city officials.
The draft of the ordinance would first be brought to a future Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods Committee meeting for discussion.
The law was first proposed during the Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods Committee meeting in August, when the Bakersfield police and fire departments presented updates on the city’s efforts to combat illegal fireworks on the Fourth of July.
City officials at the meeting suggested the ordinance, saying it would help close the enforcement gap.
The ordinance is similar to the one already adopted by Kern County. The city of Ridgecrest also adopted a similar ordinance in 2025.
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