The Riverside City Council completed its second reading of proposed changes to the Code of Ordinances at its meeting last night, including a new chapter regulating the sale and use of fireworks.

The prohibition of fireworks in town is hardly new for the city of Riverside, which previously regulated the devices under its Public Health and Safety chapter of the city code.

Like the city’s current policy, the new chapter would only allow municipalities, fair associations, amusement parks and “other organizations or groups approved by the city,” to apply for permits, not individuals.

Riverside City Administrator Christine Yancey said non-professional individuals were excluded from permit consideration because they would lack the training and insurance coverage of professional pyrotechnicians.

The new chapter does offer other changes to Riverside’s firework policy, including a seasonal window for the sale of fireworks in town, increased insurance coverage requirements for permit considerations, and a differentiation between consumer and display fireworks.

Although individuals still can’t use fireworks in town, they would be allowed to buy them in city limits at certain times of year. The proposed regulation would permit the sale of fireworks in town from early June to July 8 and around New Year’s Eve for certain stores.

As currently written, the ordinance would raise the required insurance coverage to receive a permit from $250,000 to $500,00 per person for personal injury and from $50,000 to $500,000 for property damage.

The City of Riverside will conduct a final reading and public forum for the firework code and the rest of its planned changes to the code of ordinances at its next meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 8.