Beaufort becomes first South Carolina city to ban balloon releases

by Aaron Dixon

BEAUFORT, S.C. (WTOC) - The City of Beaufort has officially become the first city in South Carolina to ban balloon releases, passing an ordinance designed to protect local waterways and wildlife.

The city council voted to make releasing balloons into the air illegal within city limits, including at parks. Violators could face fines and jail time, particularly for releasing large quantities of balloons.

The ordinance mirrors legislation that stalled in the state legislature in January. The move comes as the city reaffirms its commitment to protecting waterways and the animals that live within or near it.

“We have a significant portion of marshland that we really need to be good stewards of and part of that is protecting it from unnecessary pollution, balloons are a part of that,” said Scott Marshall, Beaufort City Manager.

A study conducted by several county groups found that 97% of balloons released into the sky are later recovered on or near the county’s beaches, marshes, and wildlife areas.

“If we actually started to survey the entire state, those numbers would be tremendous. We are doing the right thing here,” said Jenn Clementoni, Executive Director of the Carolina Bight Birding Center.

While balloon releases are commonly used to celebrate accomplishments or remember deceased loved ones, city officials said enforcement will focus on preventing large-scale releases rather than targeting accidental losses.

“I think we have all gone to the store and bought a bouquet of balloons and one gets, I don’t think we will cite somebody for that happening. This will prevent the release of mass balloons,” Marshall said.

Clementoni said the ordinance creates a win-win situation for area wildlife and noted that safer alternatives exist for those who want to hold commemorative events.

“From blowing bubbles to planting native species there’s lots of alternatives that are much healthier for our environment,” she said.

The City of Beaufort plans to meet with other municipalities in the county next month to discuss passing similar ordinances in their areas. Officials hope the local action will inspire statewide legislation.

Beaufort joins several other states that have passed similar balloon release restrictions.

Alternatives that are safer than balloon releases can be found below: