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Coast Guard Establishes Safety Zones for July 4 Fireworks Displays in California Waters

The Coast Guard is enforcing vessel exclusion zones across Southern and Northern California for Independence Day fireworks events on and around July 4, 2026.

3 min read Synthesized & fact-checked by The General Plan

Newport Beach Temporary Safety Zone

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone covering all navigable waters in the San Pedro Channel within a 1,000-foot radius of a fireworks barge offshore of Newport Beach, CA. The rule is effective from 9 p.m. until 10 p.m. on July 4, 2026, and prohibits entry by vessels or persons unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP), Los Angeles–Long Beach, or a designated representative.

The COTP Los Angeles–Long Beach determined that potential hazards associated with fireworks constitute a safety concern for anyone within a 1,000-foot radius of the display. The Coast Guard explains that it received notification that fireworks will be launched from a barge in the vicinity of Newport Beach, CA, and that it did not receive final details for the event with sufficient notice to solicit public comment before the zone had to be established. Accordingly, the agency invoked authority under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive the notice-and-comment requirement, finding good cause on grounds of impracticability. For the same reason, the agency found good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to make the rule effective less than 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. The rule is issued under the authority in 46 U.S.C. 70034 and amends 33 CFR 165.

Northern California and Lake Tahoe Area Enforcement

Separately, the Coast Guard will enforce multiple safety zones codified in 33 CFR 165.1191 for recurring annual fireworks events within the San Francisco Captain of the Port area of responsibility. The enforcement covers specific entries from Table 1 to 33 CFR 165.1191, including events at Humboldt Bay, Crescent City Harbor, San Francisco Bay, and the City of Richmond, among others. The agency states this action is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from hazards associated with the fireworks displays.

During all enforcement periods, unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the regulated areas, and must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

Key event details from the enforcement notice include:

  • City of Eureka (Humboldt Bay): The fireworks barge will transit and stage beginning at 11 a.m. on July 4, 2026. A 100-foot radius zone applies during transit; this expands to a 1,000-foot radius from 9:30 p.m. until 11:15 p.m. on July 4, 2026.
  • Crescent City Harbor: A 700-foot radius zone around the launch platform on the West Jetty is enforced from 9:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. on July 4, 2026, with enforcement ending earlier if the display ends earlier.
  • San Francisco Independence Day Fireworks (City of San Francisco): Barges load, transit, and stage from 12:01 a.m. to 9 p.m. on July 4, 2026, with a 100-foot radius zone in effect during those operations. From 9 p.m. until 10:45 p.m., the safety zone expands to a 1,000-foot radius around each of the two fireworks barges — one located approximately 1,000 feet off San Francisco Pier 39, and one located approximately 700 feet off the San Francisco Municipal Pier at Aquatic Park.
  • City of Richmond: The fireworks display is scheduled for July 3, 2026.

What to Watch

The Newport Beach safety zone takes effect at 9 p.m. on July 4, 2026, and expires at 10 p.m. the same day. Northern California enforcement periods vary by location, with most events occurring the evening of July 4, 2026, and the Richmond event occurring on July 3, 2026. Mariners in affected areas should monitor communications from the COTP San Francisco and the COTP Los Angeles–Long Beach for guidance on authorized transit.

Related

Sources

16 cited

Every hard fact above is grounded in and cited to a primary source record.

  1. The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone covering all navigable waters in the San Pedro Channel within a 1,000-foot radius of a fireworks barge offshore of Newport Beach, CA.

    federalregister.gov

  2. The Newport Beach safety zone rule is effective from 9 p.m. until 10 p.m. on July 4, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  3. Entry of vessels or persons into the Newport Beach zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Los Angeles–Long Beach, or their designated representative.

    federalregister.gov

  4. The COTP Los Angeles–Long Beach determined that potential hazards associated with fireworks are a safety concern for anyone within a 1,000-foot radius of the fireworks display.

    federalregister.gov

  5. The Coast Guard received notification that fireworks will be launched from a barge in the vicinity of Newport Beach, CA.

    federalregister.gov

  6. The Coast Guard invoked authority under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive the notice-and-comment requirement, finding good cause on grounds of impracticability.

    federalregister.gov

  7. The agency found good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to make the rule effective less than 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.

    federalregister.gov

  8. The Newport Beach rule is issued under the authority in 46 U.S.C. 70034 and amends 33 CFR 165.

    federalregister.gov

  9. The Coast Guard will enforce multiple safety zones codified in 33 CFR 165.1191 for recurring annual fireworks events within the San Francisco Captain of the Port area of responsibility.

    federalregister.gov

  10. For the City of Eureka event at Humboldt Bay, the fireworks barge will transit and stage beginning at 11 a.m. on July 4, 2026, with a 100-foot radius zone during transit, expanding to a 1,000-foot radius from 9:30 p.m. until 11:15 p.m. on July 4, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  11. For Crescent City Harbor, a 700-foot radius zone around the launch platform on the West Jetty is enforced from 9:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m. on July 4, 2026, with enforcement ending earlier if the display ends earlier.

    federalregister.gov

  12. For the San Francisco Independence Day Fireworks, barges load, transit, and stage from 12:01 a.m. to 9 p.m. on July 4, 2026, with a 100-foot radius zone in effect during those operations.

    federalregister.gov

  13. From 9 p.m. until 10:45 p.m. on July 4, 2026, the San Francisco safety zone expands to a 1,000-foot radius around each of the two fireworks barges.

    federalregister.gov

  14. One San Francisco barge is located approximately 1,000 feet off San Francisco Pier 39, and one is located approximately 700 feet off the San Francisco Municipal Pier at Aquatic Park.

    federalregister.gov

  15. The City of Richmond fireworks display is scheduled for July 3, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  16. During enforcement periods, unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the regulated areas, and must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

    federalregister.gov

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