As the Fourth of July approaches many families will be heading towards fireworks stands to load up on their favorite noisemakers and light shows.

Multicolored explosives will fill the sky as bottle rockets fly through the air and mortar shells explode.

Picayune residents intending on investing hundreds of their hard earned dollars into 15 to 30 minutes of entertainment should be aware there are ordinances limiting the time frame in which fireworks can be discharged.

While it is legal to shoot fireworks within the city of Picayune beginning on June 15 and ending July 5, they can not be discharged after 10 p.m. said code enforcement officer Tom Milar. Fines for violations can range from $25 to $500.

The same is true for New Year’s Eve. The city’s ordinance allows fireworks be shot beginning Dec. 5, until Jan. 1 for that holiday.

However, unless a complaint is filed, city officials tend to allow fireworks to be shot after midnight in the spirit of New Year’s. That exception is allowed so long as the celebration does not last longer than about 15 minutes, Milar said.

This Friday the same exception does not apply; instead city residents are expected to cease their fireworks display by the 10 p.m. deadline.  Milar said that hour is outlined in the noise ordinance and applies to every night, especially if that day is not a holiday.

The best time to shoot fireworks is after dark, but participants in this holiday’s festivities should keep their neighbor’s sleep schedules in mind.

Friday, the sun is expected to set at 8:11 p.m., providing more than an hour and 45 minutes to discharge a number of fireworks before the 10 p.m. quiet hour.

So get your fireworks ready, keep a hose handy and practice safety measures while lighting up the skies, but keep the peace and quiet of your neighborhood in mind when 10 p.m. strikes.