Purpose. Analysis of pyrotechnic activities various types, both licensed and unlicensed, supposes the need to assess modern requirements of regulatory documents governing the turnover of pyrotechnics in the country. How fully do they meet the requirements for the safe implementation of such activity for personnel, spectators, the surrounding infrastructure and exclude the causes of emergency incidents? Methods. The author has analyzed legal acts and regulatory documents governing the licensing of the production, storage and use of technical pyrotechnics, as well as the turnover of pyrotechnic products permitted for retail sale to the public. The causes of fires and explosions have been studied and summarized according to the sources of EMERCOM and mass media. Information from scientific sources on the basics of pyrotechnics has been analyzed. Findings. The imperfection of regulatory documents specific requirements for the conditions for carrying out pyrotechnic activities, training personnel and chiefs has been established. The main objective reasons for tragic incidents that have occurred over the past decades were identified: 1) legalized control loss over the turnover of pyrotechnics in the country; 2) lack of a unified set of rules for working with pyrotechnic materials for technical (professional) purposes; 3) the insufficient level of basic knowledge about pyrotechnic compositions and products based on them among personnel and chiefs of fireworks shows, as well as lack of licensing requirements for the education of the latter. The dangerous nature of the household pyrotechnics Internet sales through marketplace trading platforms is substantiated. Their specific violations of the Fire Regulations in the Russian Federation are indicated. Research application field. Measures are proposed in the field of pyrotechnic activities regulatory documents, state control in this area and retail trade in pyrotechnics. Conclusions. Pyrotechnic activity is a field of entrepreneurship where the conditions for licensing should not be weakened and there should not be chances for free wholesale and retail trade for anyone without any restrictions. Real state control should not be absent here, even for a temporary period.