Fireworks

FIREWORKS

CRYSTAL LAKE TOWNSHIP FIREWORKS ORDINANCE:
In a nutshell, TOWNSHIP LAW provides that legal, consumer-grade fireworks are allowed ONLY on safe burn (*see below) days and hours as follows:

NEW YEAR: 11 a.m. on Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. on Jan. 1
MEMORIAL DAY: 11 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. on the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Memorial Day
INDEPENDENCE DAY: 11 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. on June 29 and 30, and July 1, 2, 3 and 4; also July 5, if that date falls on a Fri or Sat.
LABOR DAY: 11 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. on the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Labor Day

STATE OF MICHIGAN FIREWORKS LAW:
State Law regulates fireworks on ALL DAYS OF THE YEAR in the following ways:

NEVER on public property, including beaches, streets and sidewalks, at hospitals or schools, playgrounds or in parks.
NEVER if a burn ban has been declared (*see below);
NEVER if ignitor(s) are under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances.
ONLY if consumer or low impact grade products;
NEVER if they are

A. deemed illegal or if not approved by the
State of Michigan and/or by the State Fire Marshall,
regardless of how it is labeled;
B. commercial grade (without a state license);
C. homemade explosives;

report Township

Fireworks

Violations

HERE

SAFETY IS PARAMONT:

IS THERE IS A BURN IN BENZIE COUNTY TODAY?

FIREWORKS

SAFETY TIPS

WHICH KINDS OF FIREWORKS ARE LEGAL?
Some commercially sold fireworks, such as the Agent of Doom, are especially dangerous and have been deemed illegal. Such items should be returned to the seller and never ignited.
Click here for more information.
Click here to report illegal fireworks sales.

Fireworks, sparklers, and firecrackers are not allowed within our National Lakeshore. Celebrate by witnessing nature's natural light display at Sleeping Bear Dunes. Click here for more on Sleeping Bear's prohibition.

D.N.R. & THE Michigan V.A.

PROPOSES A

NO FIREWORKS JULY 4th

EACH YEAR, AMERICANS SET OFF NEARLY 136,000 TONS OF FIREWORKS.
That's 300 million pounds or nearly one pound for every person living in the U.S. Fireworks release significantly large amount of air and water pollutants, particularly sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide alongside perchlorate, which is used as a propellent in fireworks. In addition, there is copper, potassium, barium, chromium, vanadium and strontium. These, and other heavy metals which give fireworks their bright colors among other purposes, are toxic. Just analyzing the physical poisons posited into the environment does not begin to address the dangerous noise levels and disruption to the human, wildlife and pet populations. Want to know more? The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) featured an article at the end of 2024, on the anticipation of fireworks ushering in the 2025 New Year all over the world, on the pollution and harms caused by fireworks. Read it here.

A BOLD NEW FUTURE? CONSIDER HAVING NO FIREWORKS AS PROGRESSIVE STEP TO
CLEANER ENVIRONMENT:

At the Michigan Climate Action Network (MiCAN), just one of many local environmental groups, they envision a firework-free 4th of July. They say that's because fireworks cause unnecessary pollution to our water and air, not to mention to terra firma itself with all the litter we see in our parks and beaches the following days. The Crystal Lake Watershed Association, another notable local environmental organization, concurs and goes even further to advise in their Summer 2022 newsletter, "Control Your Fireworks! The CLWA urges all those around Crystal Lake to prevent fireworks debris from entering the lake and not to leave it along the shoreline where it can be washed into the water. Fireworks contain numerous chemicals and heavy metals and form additional ones when they are ignited. The fumes they create also contain sulfur, nitric acid and ozone which may precipitate onto the lake surface. Does your family want to swim in the shallow water where these substances have recently landed? Michigan state law and local ordinances regulate the days on which consumer fireworks can be ignited, the types that may be displayed without a permit, and forbid their use on public property (including public beaches). Please follow these guidelines for a safe and healthy summer!"

QUICK ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS:
What kind of fireworks are allowed without a state license?
WHEN can I set my fireworks off?
WHERE can I ignite my fireworks?
How can I keep everyone safe around fireworks?
It’s very dry in northern Michigan. Does that raise concerns about fireworks?
What about parties, weddings, funerals. . . and fireworks?
My pet goes nuts when my neighbors set off fireworks. What can I do?
How can I enjoy at-home fireworks while respecting neighbors who are sensitive to them?
What kind of fireworks can I buy in Michigan? Can anyone buy them?
Where can I buy fireworks in Michigan?
What about buying fireworks in Ohio or Indiana or any other out-of-state location?

GENERAL BACKGROUND ON HOW THE CURRENT STATE LAW CAME TO BE:
In the years 2013-2018, Michiganders endured legally sanctioned fireworks exploding in their neighborhoods for up to 30 days each year. Despite the restriction to only about a month's worth of specified days throughout any given year, pet owners and parents, veterans and Independence Day revelers, still complained that the noise scared their dogs and woke their sleeping children, caused pollution of water, air and land, and was downright dangerous. For example, right here at home, one of our CLT residents, a former combat soldier who was medically diagnosed with PSD, had seriously adverse reactions to the local fireworks. Veterans and non-veterans alike throughout the state were bothered enough to pressure the legislature for further reform. As a result, the law provided some additional relief; House Bills 5939 and 5941 are now Public Acts 633, 634 and 635 as of 2018. This package of bills passed by the legislature further limited the number of days where fireworks displays could not be restricted by smaller government entities. That's where Michigan law still stands.