(a)        Except as otherwise provided in this section, it shall be unlawful for any individual, firm, partnership or corporation to manufacture, purchase, sell, deal in, transport, possess, receive, advertise, use, handle, exhibit, or discharge any pyrotechnics of any description whatsoever within the State of North Carolina.

(a1)      It shall be permissible for pyrotechnics to be exhibited, used, handled, manufactured, or discharged within the State, provided all of the following apply:

(1)        The exhibition, use, or discharge is at a concert or public exhibition.

(2)        All individuals who exhibit, use, handle, or discharge pyrotechnics in connection with a concert or public exhibition have completed the training and licensing required under Article 82A of Chapter 58 of the N.C. Gen. Stat.. The display operator or proximate audience display operator, as required under Article 82A of Chapter 58 of the N.C. Gen. Stat., must be present at the concert or public exhibition and must personally direct all aspects of exhibiting, using, handling, or discharging the pyrotechnics. Notwithstanding this subdivision, the display operator for the University of North Carolina School of the Arts may appoint an on-site representative to supervise any performances that include a proximate audience display subsequent to the opening performance, provided that the representative (i) is a minimum of 21 years of age and (ii) is properly trained in the safe discharge of proximate audience displays.

(3)        The display operator has secured written authority under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-413 from the board of county commissioners of the county, or the city if authorized under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-413(a1), in which the pyrotechnics are to be exhibited, used or discharged. Written authority from the board of commissioners or city is not required under this subdivision for a concert or public exhibition provided the display operator has secured written authority from (i) The University of North Carolina or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-413, and pyrotechnics are exhibited on lands or buildings in Orange County owned by The University of North Carolina or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, (ii) the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and pyrotechnics are exhibited on lands or in buildings owned by the State and used by the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, or (iii) The University of North Carolina or North Carolina State University under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-413, and pyrotechnics are exhibited on lands or buildings in Wake County owned by The University of North Carolina or North Carolina State University.

(a2)      Notwithstanding any provision of this section, it shall not be unlawful for a common carrier to receive, transport, and deliver pyrotechnics in the regular course of its business.

(a3)      The requirements of this section apply to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-413(b) and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-413(c).

(a4)      It shall be permissible for pyrotechnics to be exhibited, used, handled, manufactured, or discharged within the State as a special effect by a production company, as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 105-164.30(185), for a motion picture production, if the motion picture set is closed to the public or is separated from the public by a minimum distance of 500 feet.

(a5)      It shall be permissible for pyrotechnics to be exhibited, used, handled, manufactured, or discharged within the State for pyrotechnic or proximate audience display instruction consisting of classroom and practical skills training approved by the Office of State Fire Marshal.

(b)        Notwithstanding the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-414, it shall be unlawful for any individual, firm, partnership, or corporation to sell pyrotechnics as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-414(2), (3), (4)c., (5), or (6) to persons under the age of 16.

(c)        The following definitions apply in this Article:

(1)        Concert or public exhibition. – A fair, carnival, show of any description, or public celebration.

(2)        Display operator. – An individual issued a display operator license under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-82A-3.

(3)        State Fire Marshal. – Defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-80-1. ?(1947, c. 210, s. 1; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 660, s. 3; 1995, c. 475, s. 1; 2003-298, s. 2; 2007-38, s. 1; 2009-507, s. 1; 2010-22, s. 8; 2013-275, s. 1; 2015-124, s. 1.)