Green　innovation　is　the　key　measure　to　improve　environmental　efficiency　and　enhance　environmental　protection,　but　it　is　difficult　to　effectively　drive　green　innovation　only　relying　on　the　market　mechanism.　Therefore,　exploring　how　to　motivate　green　innovation　through　environmental　instruments　is　essential　for　the　sustainable　development.　Applying　a　spatial　econometric　model　to　panel　data　of　285　prefecture-level　cities　in　China,　this　study　estimates　the　dynamic　impacts　of　the　command　and　control　and　market-based　instruments　on　green　innovation,　taking　into　account　regional　and　innovation　type　heterogeneity.　The　results　of　the　spatial　econometric　analysis　show　that　the　command　and　control　instrument　inhibits　green　innovation　in　the　current　period.　Moreover,　while　the　market-based　instrument　has　no　significant　effect　on　green　innovation　in　the　current　period,　it　significantly　induces　green　innovation　in　the　lagging　period,　which　supports　the　Porter　hypothesis.　The　sub-sample　regression　results　reveal　that　the　market-based　instrument　only　induces　green　utility　model　which　is　less　innovative　both　in　the　central　and　western　regions.　In　addition,　the　market　mechanism　in　the　western　regions　should　be　improved.　Finally,　policy　recommendations　for　the　government　are　presented　to　improve　China＇s　environmental　instrument　system　to　promote　green　innovation.　This　study　fills　the　gap　in　the　literature　by　comparing　the　effects　of　command　and　control　and　market-based　instruments,　especially　in　developing　countries.