- October 12, 2024
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It’s now local law that anyone who intentionally releases, or organizes the release of, balloons or sky lanterns into the atmosphere is in violation of the Flagler County Code of Ordinances.
The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners at its regular meeting on April 3 unanimously approved amending its ordinance to make it unlawful to release even a single balloon outdoors.
“It doesn’t prohibit balloons; it doesn’t prohibit celebrations with balloons, indoors or even outdoors,” said Flagler County Assistant County Attorney Ronni Moore. “It does prohibit the intentional release of a balloon outdoors.”
Moore stressed that even the balloon consortium of manufacturers do not approve of releasing balloons outdoors into the environment.
Flagler County’s amended balloon ordinance is more restrictive than Florida Statues, which prohibit an individual from releasing 10 or more balloons within a 24-hour period as part of state efforts “to protect Florida’s beauty, environment, and economy.”
Moore said there are bills currently in the Florida House and Senate to amend the state statute by removing the words “10 or more.”
“Even a single balloon can wreak havoc in the environment, especially of the creatures that may ingest it,” she said.
Flagler County will enforce the ordinance in the same manner as other littering issues.
