Community Corner

Macomb Adjusts Zoning Laws to Keep Fireworks Sales Out of Subs

Macomb Township has amended its zoning ordinances to allow retail fireworks sales into commercial districts.

A recent revision to township zoning should keep fireworks sales in Macomb’s business districts and out of its subdivisions.

The Macomb Township board of trustees Wednesday approved an amendment to its zoning ordinances regulating commercial and warehouse districts to allow the sale of fireworks in these zones.

Because the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act, which went into effect on Jan. 1 of this year, forbids local governments from restricting fireworks sales in any way, Macomb officials have elected to use zoning power to retain some oversight on the location of sales.

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“Although the state statute prohibits any local ordinance regulating the sale, display, storage, transportation or distribution of fireworks, this ordinance does not regulate any of those activities,” said Lawrence Dloski, township attorney. “The purpose of this ordinance is to create a zoning district in which retail sales of fireworks can be conducted.”

Under the amended ordinance, the sale of consumer fireworks is allowed from temporary facilities or permanent structures provided the merchant has the proper licenses and certificates of zoning compliance and occupancy.

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“The township board did not want fireworks to be sold from a residential district, so the township has placed the sale of retail fireworks in the C-2 zoning district and created a provision in the manufacturing district for the warehousing of fireworks,” Dloski said. The amended ordinance also permits fireworks sales in areas zoned as C-2 and C-3.

By amending its ordinances to allow fireworks sales in commercial zones, the township keeps sales out of residential areas without violating state law.

shows locations in Macomb Township that are approved by the state Bureau of Fire Services to sell fireworks this year from an existing business or temporary site. The application deadline was April 1. A searchable list of all 613 businesses statewide is at this Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs site.

  • Motor City Fireworks, 20967 Hall Rd. Applicant: Elissa Burda.
  • Motor City Fireworks, 46856 Hayes Rd. Applicant: Elissa Burda.
  • Unnamed tent, 15351 Hall Rd. Applicant William Munaco.
  • Motown Fireworks, 16621 21 Mile Rd. Applicant: George Kassa.


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