Austin 311 responder standing amid fireworks debris with a distant firework popping in downtown.

Austin 311 Receives 593 Fireworks Complaints Over New Year’s

At a Glance

  • Austin 311 received 593 fireworks complaints during the New Year’s holiday.
  • That is a drop from 841 complaints the previous year.
  • 353 calls came on New Year’s Eve, with 226 on New Year’s Day.
  • Why it matters: Fewer complaints may mean quieter celebrations or better firework management.

During the holiday season from Dec. 30, 2025 to Jan. 1, 2026, residents across Austin called 311 to report fireworks disturbances, totaling 593 complaints-slightly fewer than the 841 recorded last year.

Complaint Distribution Across the City

Calls came from every part of the city, with the 78753 zip code in north Austin leading with 60 complaints, followed by 78745 in south Austin with 45. More than 30 complaints were logged in 78741, 78702, and 78758, and a total of 39 zip codes submitted at least one report.

Illustration splits New Year's Eve and Jan.1: left fireworks and street and complaints; right street and fewer fireworks.
  • 78753: 60 complaints
  • 78745: 45 complaints
  • 78741/78702/78758: >30 each

Timing of Complaints

The bulk of the calls-353-arrived on Dec. 31, while 226 were received on Jan. 1, including 107 within the first hour after midnight.

Comparison to Independence Day

Austin 311 also handled fireworks complaints during the July 4 holiday, with 779 reports from July 3-5, 2025, and 591 on July 4 itself.

Holiday Total Complaints
New Year’s (Dec. 30-Jan. 1) 593
Independence Day (Jul. 3-5) 779

The July 4 period saw more complaints overall, but the New Year’s holiday had a higher concentration of calls on the eve and day of the celebration.

Key Takeaways

  • 593 fireworks complaints logged during New Year’s holiday, down from 841 last year.
  • 353 calls on Dec. 31 and 226 on Jan. 1, with 107 in the first hour after midnight.
  • Austin 311 handled 779 complaints from July 3-5, 2025, showing higher overall volume on Independence Day.

The data suggest Austin residents are increasingly mindful of fireworks safety, though the city still faces significant complaints during major holidays.

Author

  • I’m Hannah E. Clearwater, a journalist specializing in Health, Wellness & Medicine at News of Austin.

    Hannah E. Clearwater covers housing and development for News of Austin, reporting on how growth and policy decisions reshape neighborhoods. A UT Austin journalism graduate, she’s known for investigative work on code enforcement, evictions, and the real-world impacts of city planning.

Comments

No comments yet. Why don’t you start the discussion?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *