On February 9, 2022, the Encinitas City Council adopted Ordinance 2022-01 titled “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Encinitas, California, adding Chapter 11.30 to the Encinitas Municipal Code Prohibiting the Use, Sale and Distribution of Balloons Filled with a Gas Lighter Than Air.” The ordinance includes the following key provisions:

• “No Person, including, but not limited to, a balloon wholesaler, retailer, or third-party vendor, shall use, sell, or distribute any type of Balloon inflated with any Gas Lighter Than Air within the City, either as a separate item or included in a packaged product set, including at any City Facility or City-Sponsored Event.”

• “No Person shall dispose of any Balloon inflated with any Gas Lighter Than Air within the City in any manner, including release outdoors into the air, other than in a trash container.”

• “This Section shall not apply to manned hot air balloons, or to balloons used in governmental or scientific research projects.”

Background

On May 13, 2021, the City’s Environmental Commission passed a recommendation to the City Council to adopt a Resolution and Ordinance to regulate the sale, use, distribution, and release of all lighter than air filled balloons in the City of Encinitas. More information regarding these actions can be found on the Agendas & Webcasts page.

If you suspect a violation of the lighter-than-air balloons ordinance, please complete a Citizen Complaint Form. The most important information to include is your name, the address, and the time of the violation.  The Citizen Complain Form can also be accessed via the MyEncinitas app.   

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