safety
Booms, complaints, safety risks: July 4 is approaching, but Sterling Heights wants more say over fireworks
By Jay Scott Smith, Joel Deaner at WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News
· June 19, 2026
· 2 min read
Independence Day is just a couple of weeks away, and while it is generally a time to celebrate America, it also brings many safety hazards and noise, which the city of Sterling Heights is working to address.“Every single year we get hundreds of phone calls from our residents calling for noise com...
Key takeaway “Every single year we get hundreds of phone calls from our residents calling for noise complaints,” Dale Dwojakowski, the city’s assistant city manager, said on Friday.
Why this matters in The Detroit
The push by Sterling Heights for greater control over fireworks regulations has significant implications for Detroit -area communities. As a densely populated city, Sterling Heights' concerns about noise complaints, safety risks, and disturbances for veterans with PTSD are likely shared by other municipalities in the region. The current state law, which allows fireworks to be lit on 11 days a year, may be suitable for rural areas but poses challenges for urban and suburban areas like Detroit and its surrounding cities. By advocating for local authority to establish fireworks regulations, Sterling Heights is essentially seeking a more tailored approach to managing fireworks that takes into account the unique needs and characteristics of its community. This effort could potentially inspire other cities in the Detroit area to reexamine their own fireworks policies and push for similar changes, leading to a more nuanced and effective approach to regulating fireworks across the region.
About this story
Original reporting by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News . The Detroit surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: June 19, 2026 ·
Source: WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Independence Day is just a couple of weeks away, and while it is generally a time to celebrate America, it also brings many safety hazards and noise, which the city of Sterling Heights is working to address.“Every single year we get hundreds of phone calls from our residents calling for noise com...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 19, 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News and curated for The Detroit readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Jay Scott Smith, Joel Deaner at WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News. To learn more about how The Detroit selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Detroit, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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