List of Plastic Bag Laws
Alaska
Bethel
City officials voted in July 2009 to ban plastic bags and takeout containers. The ban went into effect in September 2010.
Fairbanks
In September 2009, Fairbanks adopted a 5 cent price requirement on plastic bags. This was rescinded one month later.
Hooper Bay
The plastic bag ban in Hooper Bay went into effect in August 2010.
Arizona
Bisbee
In December 2012, the City of Bisbee passed a voluntary six month reduction period for single-use bag distribution. After the six months, council can either extend the voluntary period, or mandate a 5 cent charge on plastic bags in large retail stores.
California
Alameda County and City, Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, and Union City
The Alameda County Waste Management Authority (StopWaste.org) adopted its ordinance banning plastic bags and placing a 10 cent price requirement on paper and reusable bags in January of 2012. It goes into effect on January 1, 2013 in unincorporated Alameda County as well as its 14 incorporated cities.
The Calabasas City Council unanimously adopted a plastic bag ban with a minimum ten cent price requirement on paper bags in February 2011.
Carpinteria adopted the first double bag ban in California on March 12, 2012. Starting in July 2012, large retailers as specified are prohibited from distributing single-use paper and plastic bags. Starting in April 2013, plastic bags are banned in all other retail stores including restaurants.
The City of Dana Point adopted a ban on single-use plastic bags from all retail stores within city limits on March 6, 2012. Effective in larger stores April 1, 2013, and all other stores October 1, 2013.
Fairfax adopted its ban on plastic bags August 2007. After a legal challenge by the plastic industry, Fairfax voters overwhelmingly adopted a plastic bag ban by initiative in November 2008.
In February 2012, the Laguna Beach City Council unanimously adopted a plastic bag ban in all retail stores. Grocery stores, pharmacies, and convenience/liquor stores must include a 10 cent minimum price requirement on paper bags distributed. Effective 1/1/13.
On May 17, 2011, the City of Long Beach passed a bag ordinance with a 5-0 vote. It banned single-use plastic bags and placed a 10 cent minimum price requirement on paper bags. The ordinance went into effect in larger stores starting in August 2011, and expanded to others stores in 2012.
Los Angeles County banned plastic bags and placed a 10 cent minimum price requirement on recycled paper bags in November 2010. It was first effective in July 2011, and expanded to all other stores by January 2012.
The Malibu City Council voted to ban plastic bags in May 2008.
The Manhattan Beach City Council voted to ban plastic bags in July 2008. The CA Supreme Court overturned a legal challenge to the ordinance in July 2011 and the bag ordinance went into effect six months later.
Marin County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in favor of an ordinance restricting the free distribution of single-use bags in January 2011, effective January 2012.
On February 14, 2012, the Millbrae City Council adopted a plastic bag ban with a 10 cent requirement on paper bags. The ordinance goes into effect on September 1, 2012 in all retail establishments, except for restaurants, non-profits, and dry-cleaners.
The Monterey City Council unanimously passed an ordinance on December 6, 2011. The ordinance bans plastic bags and places an initial 10 cent minimum price requirement on paper bags for the first year (25 cents after).
Ojai adopted a plastic bag ban on April 10, 2012. Grocery stores may distribute paper bags with 10 cent price requirement. Effective July 1, 2012 in all retail stores.
The Palo Alto City Council voted March 2009 to ban plastic bags at large supermarkets and announced their intention to consider expanding the ban to cover all retail stores as well as enacting a fee on paper bags.
In November of 2011, the Pasadena City Council unanimously adopted a plastic bag ban with a 10 cent minimum price requirement on paper bags. Effective July 1, 2012 for large stores and supermarkets and December 2012 for convenience stores.
San Francisco became the first city in the nation to adopt a ban on plastic shopping bags in April 2007. In February of 2012, the Board of Supervisors voted to expand the ordinance to more stores.
San Jose City Council passed a ban on plastic bags in December 2010. It is effective January 2012. For the first two years, paper bags will be sold under this ordinance at 10 cents each; after two years the minimum price per paper bag is 25 cents each.
The San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority adopted a plastic bag ban with a 10 cent minimum price requirement on paper bags in January of 2012. It goes into effect on 9/1/12 in all seven incorporated cities as well as unincorporated areas of the county.
On April 26, 2011, the County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of a single-use bag ordinance. The ordinance bans single-use plastic bags and places a 15 cent minimum price requirement on single-use paper bags throughout unincorporated county areas. It is effective January 1, 2012.
On September 13, 2011, the County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in favor of a single-use bag ordinance. It bans single-use plastic bags and places a 10 cent minimum price requirement on single-use paper bags throughout unincorporated county areas. It is effective March 20, 2012.
The Santa Monica City Council unanimously voted for a ban on single-use plastic bags and a cost pass-through requirement per recyclable paper bag in January 2011.
On May 9, 2012, Solana Beach became the first city in San Diego County to adopt a plastic bag ban. Paper bags can be purchased for ten cents each under the ordinance.
Sunnyvale passed a bag ordinance in December 2011. The ordinance bans single-use plastic bags and places a 10 cent minimum price requirement on paper bags which later increases to 25 cents. Starting June 20, 2012 it covers grocery and convenience stores and large retailers, and expands to cover all retailers by March 2013.
City Council adopted an ordinance on May 2, 2012 banning plastic bags and placing a 10 cent charge on paper bags in all retail stores. The ban is operative starting in large stores within six months of adoption.
On May 8, 2012, Watsonville became the first city in Santa Cruz County to ban plastic bags in all retail stores. An initial 10 cent charge on paper bags is mandated to increase to 25 cents after the first year.
Colorado
The city of Aspen banned plastic bags and placed a 20 cent charge on paper bags in October 2011. It is effective in May 2012 in the city's two grocery stores.
Basalt
The city of Basalt passed an ordinance placing a 20 cent charge on both single-use plastic and paper bags in September 2011. It would have been effective May 2012 in grocery stores but was narrowly overturned by a voter referendum in April 2012.
The Carbondale Board of Trustees approved an ordinance in October 2011. Like Aspen's ordinance, it bans plastic bags and places a 20 cent charge on paper bags in grocery stores with 3,500 square feet or more. A referendum placed the ordinance on the ballot in April 2012 and voters in Carbondale affirmed the Trustees' decision. Effective May 2012.
The town of Telluride, CO banned plastic bags in October 2010. The ban went into effect March 2011, with a 10 cent price requirement on paper bags.
Connecticut
In September 2008, Westport became the first Connecticut city to ban plastic bags.
District of Columbia
Washington
The District of Columbia Council voted June 2009 to require retailers to charge a $0.05 fee on all carryout bags.
Hawaii
The Big Island of Hawaii banned single-use plastic bags in January 2012.
Honolulu banned plastic bags in May 2012. Effective July 1, 2012.
Kauai County
Kauai banned plastic bags in October 2009. The ordinance became effective on January 11, 2011.
Maui County
Maui banned plastic bags in August 2008. The ordinance became effective on January 11, 2011.
Maryland
The County followed the example of the neighboring District of Columbia and passed a 5 cent minimum price requirement on single-use plastic and paper bags in May 2011. It is effective January 2012. Unlike the DC ordinance, this ordinance applies to all retailers.
New York
East Hampton
In August 2011, the East Hampton Village Board approved a plastic bag ban. Effective February 2012.
In December 2011, the Rye City Council unanimously adopted a plastic bag ban at all retail stores. Effective May 7, 2012.
Southampton
In April 2011, the Southampton Village Board unanimously approved a ban on non-biodegradable bags for retailers, supermarkets and restaurants. Effective November 6, 2011.
North Carolina
Hyde, Currituck and Dare Counties
The North Carolina Legislatures banned plastic in the Barrier Islands in June 2009. The ban was extended to all businesses in the three counties in 2010.
Oregon
Portland became the first city to adopt a ban on plastic bags in July 2011, after the state legislature failed to pass a statewide ban. Effective October 15, 2011.
Texas
In March 2012, Austin City Council adopted a sweeping ban on single-use plastic and paper bags in all business establishments. Effective 3/1/13.
Brownsville
The City of Brownsville became the first in its state to restrict plastic bags in 2009 with a $1 charge per transaction. The ordinance became effective January 2011. (See Municipal Code, Chapter 46, Article II, Section 46).
Fort Stockton
In 2010, the City of Fort Stockton banned single-use plastic bags from stores, effective September 2011 (See Municipal Code, Article I, Section 12-9).
In January 2011, South Padre Island passed a bag ordinance banning plastic single-use carryout bags that became effective in 2012.
Washington
In April 2012, the City of Bainbridge Island adopted a plastic bag ban in all retail stores. Paper bags are allowed with a five cent charge. Effective November 2012.
Bellingham banned plastic bags and placed a 5 cent minimum price requirement on paper bags in July 2011.
Edmonds banned plastic bags at all retail stores in July 2009.
The City of Mukilteo banned plastic bags in December 2011. Effective 1/1/13.
In December 2011, the Seattle City Council unanimously passed an ordinance banning single-use plastic bags and putting a 5 cent minimum price requirement on single-use paper bags. Effective 7/1/12.
Previously, the Seattle City Council voted to require retailers to charge a $0.20 on all single-use carryout bags in July 2008. The ordinance was overturned by a plastic industry-financed initiative one year later.
