The City of Flagler Beach has adopted a new ordinance that toughens its littering rules and bans certain plastic and metallic party decorations, such as glitter, balloons, and confetti, from being used or displayed outdoors on public property.
Ordinance 2026-08 passed its first reading on May 14, 2026, and was passed and adopted on June 11, 2026. It was signed by Mayor Patti King and attested by City Clerk Penny Overstreet.
Why the City Made the Change
According to the ordinance, city commissioners found that illegal dumping of litter on public and private property has become a costly problem for taxpayers and harms the natural beauty of the community. The ordinance also states that plastic and metallized party decorations are lightweight and easily blown into the environment by wind, and that these products are often made from petroleum-based or metallized plastics that break down into microplastics and nanoplastics, which can persist in the environment for years and are difficult to remove once scattered.
The ordinance notes that non-plastic alternatives, such as reusable, natural fiber, or paper-based materials, are readily available. City officials cited Florida’s Litter Law, which allows local governments to adopt littering rules stricter than state law.
Updated Littering Rules
The ordinance rewrites the city’s existing littering law to more broadly define what counts as litter, including items such as garbage, construction materials, tires, vehicle parts, and waste from industrial or agricultural operations. It becomes unlawful to dump litter or junk on any public road, right-of-way, waterway within city limits, or private property, unless specifically authorized by law.
Drivers and boaters transporting items that could blow away must now take care to secure their loads. A first observed violation results in a written warning, but repeat violations can bring fines. Under the new rules, a first littering violation is a civil infraction carrying a $250 fine, a second violation within 12 months carries a $375 fine, and a third or subsequent violation within 12 months carries a $500 fine.
Law enforcement and code enforcement officers are authorized to enforce the ordinance, and photographs of litter or junk can be used as evidence in citation cases. Citations can be appealed to the city’s Code Enforcement Special Magistrate within 30 days, along with an applicable fee. Payment of a citation is due within 30 days of issuance, and the city can use any lawful means to collect unpaid citations.
New Restrictions on Party Decorations
The ordinance also creates a new section of city code banning certain “prohibited decoration items” from being used or displayed outdoors at any public facility, park, or beach within Flagler Beach. The rule applies to plastic or metallized products distributed in groups of more than 10 for use as party favors that are lightweight enough to blow away in normal wind. Specifically banned items include glitter, confetti, sequins, tinsel, mylar streamers, artificial decorative petals, metallic garlands, plastic or metallized table scatter, plastic decorative cut-outs, and plastic or metallized party poppers or cannons.
The rule does not apply to reusable decorations made entirely of natural fibers, such as cotton, jute, hemp, or untreated wood, or to uncoated paper products without plastic coatings, metallized film, or glitter. It also does not apply to large items that would not blow away under normal wind conditions.
Violations follow a separate, lower penalty structure than the general littering rule. A first violation results in a written warning. A person who violates the rule again after receiving a warning faces a $50 fine for that offense, $125 for a second violation within 12 months, and $250 for a third or subsequent violation within 12 months. Citations under this section can also be appealed to the Code Enforcement Special Magistrate within 30 days.
Public Notice
Notice of the public hearings on the ordinance was published in the Palm Coast Observer on April 30, 2026, and May 28, 2026, ahead of the city commission’s votes on May 14 and June 11, 2026.
The post Flagler Beach Bans Glitter and Balloons on Public Property Under New Littering Law first appeared on Flagler County Buzz.
