Washtenaw County, MI Fire Regulations: Fireworks (2026)

Michigan's Fireworks Safety Act (PA 256 of 2011, codified at MCL 28.451 through 28.471) preempts most local regulation of consumer fireworks while expressly preserving narrow local authority over the time of discharge. Under MCL 28.457(2), a city, charter township, township, village, or county may enact an ordinance regulating the ignition, discharge, and use of consumer fireworks. However, the ordinance MAY NOT regulate use after 11 a.m. on the following protected days: December 31 until 1 a.m. January 1 (New Year's); the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Memorial Day until 11:45 p.m.; June 29 to July 4 each year until 11:45 p.m.; July 5 if it falls on a Friday or Saturday until 11:45 p.m.; and the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Labor Day until 11:45 p.m. Outside those protected windows, local ordinances may prohibit discharge entirely. Per MCL 28.457(3), an ordinance under subsection (2) shall impose a civil fine of $1,000 for each violation, with $500 remitted to local law enforcement. Statewide rules: consumer fireworks may only be ignited from personal property; ignition on public property (streets, sidewalks, parks), school property, church property, or another person's property without express permission is illegal; remnants may not land on public property or another person's property without written permission. Local government may not regulate the sale, display, storage, transportation, or distribution of fireworks except that jurisdictions in counties with 750,000+ population (Washtenaw, with ~370,000, does not qualify) may regulate temporary structures used for fireworks sales — so this exception does not apply here. Sale of consumer fireworks is licensed by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) under MCL 28.453. Ann Arbor regulates discharge under Code of Ordinances Chapter 115; Ypsilanti Township maintains a local consumer fireworks ordinance limiting discharge outside the state-protected windows.