Are Balloon Releases Illegal in Michigan?

Balloons are used to celebrate all kinds of events in Michigan. Birthdays, baby showers, anniversaries, grand opening events, you name it. But what happens when those balloons are released?

Some balloon releases are even done purposefully to honor those who have died, to mark a special occasion, to make gender announcements, and plenty more. However, what goes up must come down. And it's the coming down that seems to be the problem.

Why Balloon Releases Are Controversial

When balloons inevitably pop or deflate and come down, they leave behind litter. Balloons can be harmful to animals that might accidentally eat them. Plus, strings can get wrapped around animals in dangerous ways too. In addition to the potential harm it causes to wildlife, balloon litter is harmful to the environment and can even interfere with power lines and other electrical infrastructure.

With all this potential damage from balloon releases, are there any laws against it in Michigan?

Does Michigan Have a Balloon Release Law?

As of right now, no. There are no statewide laws in Michigan that prohibit the release of balloons. There were some Senate bills that got introduced back in 2023, but they seemed to have stalled out. Cities across Michigan may have their own ordinances, but that's a city-by-city basis.

Currently, there are 11 states that have passed "No Balloon Release" laws:

• California
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Maryland
• Nevada
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Virginia

Plus, 17 more states introduced bills to ban balloon releases in 2025.

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Michigan wasn't one of those states, but statewide restrictions could eventually be reconsidered here. Efforts have been made to update Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to consider balloon releases littering and therefore make them illegal.