# 2026-12169: Boats Face Curfew for New York Fireworks Show

2026-12169, Special Local Regulation; 4th of July Fireworks, East River and Upper New York Bay, Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn, NY, is a Federal Register rule from Homeland Security Department, Coast Guard published 2026-06-17, effective 2026-07-04; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-24).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12169
- As of: 2026-06-24
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-12169
- Title: Special Local Regulation; 4th of July Fireworks, East River and Upper New York Bay, Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn, NY
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Homeland Security Department; Coast Guard
- Citation: 91 FR 36524
- Published: 2026-06-17
- Effective: 2026-07-04
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 1625-AA08
- Last updated: 2026-06-24

## In one line

Boats Face Curfew for New York Fireworks Show

## Summary

On July 4, 2026, the Coast Guard will set special rules on the East River and Upper New York Bay to keep everyone safe during the big 4th of July fireworks show. Boats will have to follow new movement rules, stay out of certain zones, and only enter fireworks areas if given permission. These rules kick in at 4 p.m. and last until 11:30 p.m., with no extra costs for boaters—just safer celebrations!

## Abstract

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation (SLR) for certain navigable waters of the East River and Upper New York Bay, in New York Harbor, NY. The SLR is needed to provide for the safety of life on these highly congested waterways immediately before, during, and after a 4th of July fireworks display. The rule controls vessel movement, creates spectator zones, establishes an exclusion zone near launch sites and prohibits entry into moving protection zones around transiting fireworks barges unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector New York, or their designated representative.

## Effects PRIA read

- Boaters face timed access limits: cost, low. You must follow special movement rules in parts of the East River and Upper New York Bay starting at 4:00 p.m. on July 4, 2026 and continuing through 11:30 p.m. (enforcement only on July 4 during those hours unless the event is delayed to July 5). Non-participants may not enter, transit, anchor in,…
- Personal watercraft are banned: cost, low. Personal watercraft (jet-skis and similar vessels) are prohibited from operating in any regulated area during enforcement on July 4, 2026 (4:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., or those hours on July 5 if delayed). The rule defines personal watercraft as vessels propelled by a water-jet pump or similar machiner…
- Spectator zones limit vessel sizes and times: cost, low. Spectator Area DELTA (D) is open to all vessels beginning at 8:00 p.m.; Spectator Area FOXTROT (F) is limited to vessels over 65.6 feet (20 meters) and opens at 8:00 p.m. with vessels required to be in holding position by 9:00 p.m. and to depart without delay after the display; Spectator Area GOLF…
- 50-yard moving protection zone around barges: cost, low. A moving protection zone of a 50-yard radius will be enforced around participating fireworks barges while they are loaded with explosive material from their point of departure until placement at the launch site. The point of departure and details will be announced in a Broadcast Notice to Mariners.
- Small entities told limited economic impact: mixed, low. The Coast Guard certified this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because vessel traffic can use alternative routes (Hudson and Harlem Rivers) and restrictions last about seven and a half hours on July 4, 2026 (or same hours on July 5 if weath…

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- [2026-13137](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13137): Marine Casualty Reporting on the Outer Continental Shelf, 2026-06-30
- [2026-08699](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08699): Shipping Safety Fairways Along the Atlantic Coast, 2026-05-05
- [2026-20632](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20632): Special Local Regulations; San Francisco Bay Navy Fleet Week Parade of Ships and Blue Angels Demonstration, San Francisco, CA, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20527](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20527): Area Maritime Security Advisory Committee (AMSC), Eastern Great Lakes, Western New York; Sub-Committee Vacancy, 2026-10-07
- [2026-20522](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20522): Safety Zone; Luminsea Miami Shootout and Races, Miami Marine Stadium Harbor, Miami FL, 2026-10-07

## Sources
- [2026-12169 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/17/2026-12169/special-local-regulation-4th-of-july-fireworks-east-river-and-upper-new-york-bay-manhattan-queens)
- [2026-12169 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-17/pdf/2026-12169.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-12168, Security Zone; FIFA World Cup and Fan Fest 2026, Bayfront Park, Miami, FL](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12168)
- [Next: 2026-12170, Special Local Regulation; Marine Events Within the Captain of the Port Zone Col…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12170)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12169 (as of 2026-06-24).