For years, Guilford County Clerk to the Board Robin Keller has, each Fourth of July, struck a match, lit the fuse for the giant county fireworks display and then run like crazy to safety.

Actually, that’s not true but what is true is that the fireworks permitting responsibility in Guilford County has been under the Clerk to the Board’s office and Keller has learned a great deal about them through the years.  After Thursday, after the Guilford County Board of Commissioners goes through with a planned vote, those duties will be taken from Keller and handed over to a more fitting person – and longtime Emergency Services Director Jim Albright who just got promoted to assistant county manager.

At a Thursday, Oct. 1 meeting, the commissioners are scheduled to vote on a resolution that would shift responsibility for issuing fireworks permits away from the Clerk to the Board’s office and instead put the job largely in the hands of emergency services and the county’s two largest cities.

Under the proposal, Albright – or his designee – would be responsible for issuing fireworks permits throughout Guilford County except inside the city limits of Greensboro and High Point.

The Clerk to the Board’s Office used to be two women – Effie, the clerk, and Crystal, the assistant clerk – however, over the last two decades the office has grown to house a half dozen positions and has taken on more responsibilities.  So, it’s not surprising that Keller is not at all disappointed in losing the duty.

“Absolutely not!” she wrote in an email when asked if she regrtted losing the fireworks responsibility to Albright and the cities.  “This was actually a great collaboration with our Fire Marshals, and we have the support of all the Fire Marshals’ Offices on this one (Greensboro, High Point and Guilford County).”

Keller added, “While I truly appreciate everyone’s confidence in the Clerk’s Office to handle so many different things, this is one responsibility I am more than happy to hand back to the professionals. I have learned a lot about fireworks permitting over the years and made great friends with the Department of Insurance and our Marshals!“

Inside Greensboro, the authority would be delegated to the Greensboro City Council – while the High Point City Council would be given the same authority within the city limits of High Point.

The change will take effect Dec. 31, 2026.

Under North Carolina law, county commissioners have the authority to issue permits for fireworks and pyrotechnic displays associated with concerts, fairs, carnivals, shows, public celebrations and other public exhibitions.

Guilford County commissioners have for years delegated that job to the Clerk to the Board’s office. However, over the years fireworks permitting has become a whole lot more complicated.

County leaders state that there have been “significant advancements” in fire safety standards and pyrotechnic regulations – including changes involving the credentials required for fireworks shooters and operators, structural safety requirements and fire suppression standards.

They also point to the volume and complexity of fireworks permit requests as a reason for moving the responsibility to agencies more directly involved with fire and emergency safety.

This change doesn’t mean that residents will suddenly be able to put on professional fireworks displays without government approval. In fact, the proposed resolution states explicitly that no fireworks or pyrotechnic exhibition, display or use covered by the policy may take place in Guilford County without a valid permit issued by the appropriate county or city jurisdiction.

Anyone applying for a Guilford County fireworks permit would also have to provide proof of satisfactory general liability insurance as well as a valid state permit. Even after the county permit is issued, it wouldn’t become valid until the appropriate inspection agency gives its final approval.

NC General Statute gives county commissioners authority over permits for certain fireworks displays but also allows the commissioners to authorize municipal governing bodies to issue the permits within their city limits.

That provision is what would allow Guilford County to turn the job over to Greensboro and High Point for displays held within those cities. The practical result will be three different permitting authorities depending on where the fireworks are going to go off.

If the event is in Greensboro, Greensboro would handle it.

If it’s in High Point, High Point would.

For displays anywhere else in Guilford County, the job would fall to the Guilford County Emergency Services director or a designee.

The fireworks policy change is on the consent agenda for the commissioners’ Thursday, Oct. 1 meeting, meaning it will be approved along with a number of other items with no discussion unless a commissioner asks to have it pulled.

Keller said once it’s done she won’t miss the job.

“In fact, if it passes, I may have to throw a little celebration for my team…with sparklers, of course!”

While some types of fireworks are not legal for ordinary residents to set off, Keller would be within the law if she limits her joyful display to sparklers.

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