Christmas and New Year information
Find out all the information you need about our services over the Christmas and New Year period. This includes our opening times, waste collection days, and how to contact us out of hours.
Licences for fireworks and explosives
You must be licensed if you sell or store fireworks and explosives.
Who needs a licence
You must be licensed if you sell or store:
- cartridges for nail guns
- cartridges for vehicle airbags
- fireworks
- flares and smoke signals
- small arms cartridges
Regulations
The Explosives Regulations 2014 imposes storage requirements on any person who wishes to store explosives, and the requirement to hold a licence to do so. There are some specific exemptions for those storing very small quantities of explosives or who are storing explosives for only a short period of time.
If you wish to sell fireworks all year round you will also need an additional licence under the Fireworks Regulations 2004.
Apply for or renew a licence
Apply to Cumbria Trading Standards if you are storing between 5kg and 2000kg of explosives, including:
- fireworks
- small arms ammunition
- air bag inflators
You can apply by either phone or email.
Telephone: 01946 505005
Email: trading.standards@cumberland.gov.uk
Costs for explosives licences
A table listing the different explosive licences and the cost per licence.
| Explosive licence | Cost per licence from 1 April 2024 |
|---|---|
| Initial licence to store explosives (no separation distance required) - one year duration | £119 |
| Initial licence to store explosives (no separation distance required) - two year duration | £154 |
| Initial licence to store explosives (no separation distance required) - three year duration | £190 |
| Initial licence to store explosives (no separation distance required) - four year duration | £226 |
| Initial licence to store explosives (no separation distance required) - five year duration | £260 |
| Initial licence to store explosives (separation distance required) - one year duration | £202 |
| Initial licence to store explosives (separation distance required) - two year duration | £266 |
| Initial licence to store explosives (separation distance required) - three year duration | £333 |
| Initial licence to store explosives (separation distance required) - four year duration | £409 |
| Initial licence to store explosives (separation distance required) - five year duration | £463 |
| Licence renewal to store explosives (no separation distance required) - one year duration | £59 |
| Licence renewal to store explosives (no separation distance required) - two year duration | £94 |
| Licence renewal to store explosives (no separation distance required) - three year duration | £132 |
| Licence renewal to store explosives (no separation distance required) - four year duration | £166 |
| Licence renewal to store explosives (no separation distance required) - five year duration | £202 |
| Licence renewal to store explosives (separation distance required) - one year duration | £94 |
| Licence renewal to store explosives (separation distance required) - two year duration | £161 |
| Licence renewal to store explosives (separation distance required) - three year duration | £226 |
| Licence renewal to store explosives (separation distance required) - four year duration | £291 |
| Licence renewal to store explosives (separation distance required) - five year duration | £357 |