It's only been a few years since New Jersey started to relax consumer fireworks laws.

Before 2017, everything was illegal in the Garden State, even sparklers.

While New Jersey still has somewhat strict fireworks laws, especially when it comes to rockets, they're not nearly as strict as they used to be.

Previously, if you wanted to light up even some simple sparklers in New Jersey you'd have to smuggle the goods in from a neighboring state (we've all passed plenty of those just-over-the-state-border stands).

But now, you can terrorize your neighborhood's dogs perfectly legally, but to keep it legal, here's what you can and can't shoot off here in Jersey (safely, of course, please):

Legal fireworks in New Jersey:

Sparklers, fountains, small smoke bombs.

Illegal fireworks in New Jersey:

Rockets, firecrackers, Roman candles, and anything that contains yellow or white phosphorus or mercury.

Basically, if it stays on the ground and shoots off sparks, it's OK (except for Roman candles). If it leaves the ground and/or explodes, it's not.

Here's the wording from the actual bill that was signed into law in New Jersey in 2017 that outlines what's legal:

A wood stick or wire sparkler of not more than 100 grams of pyrotechnic mixture per item;
A hand held or ground based sparkling device which is non-explosive and non-aerial, which may produce a crackling or whistling effect, and contain 75 grams or less of pyrotechnic composition per tube or a total of 500 grams or less for multiple tubes; and
Snakes and glow worms, smoke devices, and trick noisemakers, which include party poppers, snappers, and drop pops, each consisting of 25/100 grains or less of explosive mixture.

As far as what remains illegal:

All consumer fireworks not specifically permitted including torpedoes, firecrackers, skyrockets, aerial devices and fireworks containing yellow or white phosphorous or mercury.

To make it even easier, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs put out a handy, colorful guide that you can check out by clicking here.

You can also take a look at a helpful guide from Stafford Township by clicking here.