Sale of explosives and fireworks
Under the provisions of the Explosive Regulations 2014 a licence is required to store fireworks in any premises. Tower Hamlets (often jointly with local fire services) inspect premises to ensure that safety conditions are met prior to issuing a licence.
Applicants may request licences for longer periods up to 5 years, however the council may refuse extended licences. You can download the application form.
Firework sale dates
Unless the trader has a separate licence from Tower Hamlets, fireworks may only be sold from:
- 15 October to 10 November
- 26 to 31 December
- 3 days before Diwali and Chinese New Year
Regulations
Tower Hamlets Trading Standards investigates all fireworks related problems, including sales of fireworks to under-aged people, the sale of dangerous explosives and the unsafe storage of fireworks.
Suppliers and retailers of fireworks must be registered with Tower Hamlets and suppliers of fireworks outside the recognised fireworks season – which is about three weeks each year – must have a licence from the Tower Hamlets Licensing Section.
Additionally, wholesalers must provide Tower Hamlets Licensing with information about large sales of fireworks.
This authority is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you have provided on this form for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.
For more details on how your information is used please refer to the Environmental Health & Trading Standard privacy notice.
Explosives and firework licensing fees: 2024
| Licence type | Separation distance | Duration | Fee |
|---|
|
Initial licence to store explosives
|
Not required
|
1 year
|
£119
|
|
Initial licence to store explosives
|
Not required
|
2 years
|
£154
|
|
Initial licence to store explosives
|
Not required
|
3 years
|
£190
|
|
Initial licence to store explosives
|
Not required
|
4 years
|
£226
|
|
Initial licence to store explosives
|
Not required
|
5 years
|
£260
|
|
Initial licence to store explosives
|
Required
|
1 year
|
£202
|
|
Initial licence to store explosives
|
Required
|
2 years
|
£266
|
|
Initial licence to store explosives
|
Required
|
3 years
|
£333
|
|
Initial licence to store explosives
|
Required
|
4 years
|
£409
|
|
Initial licence to store explosives
|
Required
|
5 years
|
£463
|
Explosives and firework licence renewal duration and fees
| Licence type | Separation distance | Duration | Fee |
|---|
| Licence renewal to store explosives |
Not required |
1 year |
£59 |
| Licence renewal to store explosives |
Not required |
2 years |
£94 |
| Licence renewal to store explosives |
Not required |
3 years |
£132 |
| Licence renewal to store explosives |
Not required |
4 years |
£166 |
| Licence renewal to store explosives |
Not required |
5 years |
£202 |
| Licence renewal to store explosives |
Required |
1 year |
£94 |
| Licence renewal to store explosives |
Required |
2 years |
£161 |
| Licence renewal to store explosives |
Required |
3 years |
£226 |
| Licence renewal to store explosives |
Required |
4 years |
£291 |
| Licence renewal to store explosives |
Required |
5 years |
£357 |
Licence variation fees
| Type | Fee |
|---|
| Variation on current licence (changing name/address of current licence) |
£40 |
| Transfer of licence or registration |
£40 |
| Replacement of licence or registration if lost |
£40 |
Further information
You can download the legislation and get advice from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). You will be contacted in writing on receipt of the application form and a site visit arranged.