Fireworks Tents, Storefronts Sprout Widely Under New Michigan Law

Get set for a loud and lively fireworks season as dozens of new sales outlets take advantage of a relaxed state law in effect this year.

Now that consumers can buy airborne fireworks without leaving Michigan, more than 200 retail sales permits have been issued to temporary sites and stores around Metro Detroit, MLive Media Group reports. Macomb tops the list with 86 sellers, followed by Oakland (61), Wayne (70) and Livingston (38).

Some have colorful names — such as Thunderking in Rochester Hills, Red Dragon in Shelby Township and TNT Fireworks in Royal Oak. Others are generic tents, sprouting like carnivals as a sign of the season. Churches benefit from sales at sites in Royal Oak and White Lake.

It became legal this year to sell bottle rockets, Roman candles and other flying devices to consumers. Legislators passed the change, which Gov. Rick Snyder signed last Dec. 13, to generate sales tax revenue and registration fees. Sellers pay $1,000 annually for a permanent site or $600 for a tent or other seasonal, outdoor location.

Cities and townships can’t block sales, and have limited power to restrict where and when individuals can light mini-explosives that whine, bang and boom. The new law bars municipalities from regulating fireworks use on federal holidays – such as July 4 – or the day right before and after.

to prohibit consumer fireworks use any other times or on someone else’s land without the owner’s written permission. They also can’t be set off on school or church properties. the same day and also prohibited possession of consumer fireworks by a minor.

Macomb Township’s Planning Commission plans to specify where pyrotechnics can and can’t be sold. "We can amend the zoning ordinance to allow (fireworks sales) into commercial zones so people don’t start selling them out of their garages," Township Clerk Michael Koehs .

The following list shows locations in local Michigan Patch communities 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.

Bloomfield Hills

• Jakes Fireworks, 2101 Telegraph Rd. (temporary). Applicant: Jason Marietta.

West Bloomfield

• Phantom of Michigan, 7300 Haggerty Rd. (store). Applicant: Raechelle Speaker.

White Lake

• Crazy Fireworks, 10150 Highland Rd. (temporary). Applicant: Tracy Wolf.
• SGS Electrical Service, 8001 Elizabeth Lake Rd. (temporary). Applicant: Sam Semma.
• SGS Electrical Service, 6350 E. Highland Rd. (temporary). Applicant: Sam Semma.
• TNT Fireworks, 10951 Highland Rd. (tent in Kmart lot, operated by Base Church of Waterford Township). Applicant: Charles Friese.

Brighton

• Abednego, 10840 Grand River Ave. (store). Applicant: Michael Crosby.

Farmington Hills

• R. George Sales, 39045 Polo Club, #202 (temporary). Applicant: Rimon George.
• Phantom of Michigan, 32905 Northwestern Hwy. (temporary). Applicant: Raechelle Speaker.
• Phantom of Michigan, 35000 Grand River Ave. (temporary). Applicant: Raechelle Speaker.

Hartland

• Crazy Fireworks, 9576 Highland Rd. (store). Applicant: Tracy Wolf.

Novi

• Ingram Enterprises, 27754 Novi Rd. (store). Applicant: Michael Ingram.