Balloons Banned In South OC City Starting January

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Laguna Beach residents will have to leave balloons out of party planning, after the city's move to ban balloons across town was expected to come into effect starting January.

The balloon ban comes almost a year after the Laguna Beach City Council voted to prohibit the sale, distribution and use of all balloons starting Jan. 1, 2024.

The decision comes in response to "prolific" balloon debris on city beaches, parks, streets and trails. The debris contributes to plastic and microplastic pollution, and may pose extreme safety hazards when coming into contact with electric equipment.

Here's what Laguna Beach residents and businesses need to know about the ban, starting Jan. 1:

• No Person (defined below) that sells or distributes balloons of any kind, whether filled or unfilled, shall be permitted to sell or distribute any balloon.
• No Person shall intentionally release any balloon, regardless of fill, into the air.
• No Person shall use any balloon on any public area, including any public street, park, beach, sidewalk, recreational area or other City-owned or controlled property.
• No Person shall use any balloon at any City-sponsored event.

For more information on the balloon ban in Laguna Beach, visit the city's website.