Plastic bag bans in the United States

There is no national plastic bag fee or ban currently in effect in the United States. However, the states of California,^[1] Colorado,^[2] Connecticut,^[3] Delaware,^[4] Hawaii (de facto), Maine, New Jersey,^[5] New York,^[6] Oregon,^[7] Rhode Island, Vermont^[8] and Washington^[9] and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico^[10][11] have banned disposable bags. Over 200 counties and municipalities have enacted ordinances either imposing a fee on plastic bags or banning them outright, including all counties in Hawaii.^[12]

Phase out of lightweight plastic products in the United States

  Plastic bags banned

  A charge on some plastic bags

  Partial charge or ban (county or municipality level)

  Bans preempted by state law or court order

Some attempts at banning plastic shopping bags statewide (for example in Massachusetts, though as of May 2023^[update], 162 of the 301 cities and towns in the state have done so^[13]) have not succeeded mainly due to plastic industry lobbying.^[14] A few jurisdictions have chosen to implement a fee-only approach to bag reduction such as Chicago, Washington, D.C. and certain counties and independent cities in Virginia.^{[15][16][17][18]} Some states, such as Florida, Arizona, and Missouri, have passed laws preventing local municipalities from passing their own bans.^[19] Some retailers have stopped using plastic bags ahead of government mandates.^[20]

Summary of plastic bag laws

(Law no longer in effect)

Local laws governing plastic bag use in the United States

State/Territory	Jurisdiction	Passage date	Effective date	Effect
Alaska	City-Borough of Anchorage	August 2018	September 2019	Plastic bag ban, 10 cent charge for paper bags.[note 1][21][22]
	City of Bethel	July 2009	September 2010	Plastic bag ban.[23]
	City of Cordova		November 2015	Plastic bag ban; bags are banned under 2.25 mils. [24]
	City of Dillingham		December 31, 2020	Plastic bag ban. [25]
	City of Homer	August 2012	January 2013	Plastic bag ban.[26]
	City of Hooper Bay		August 2010	Plastic bag ban.[27]
	City of Kodiak	January 2018	April 2018	Plastic bag ban.[28]
	City of Palmer	May 2018	January 2019	Plastic bag ban.[29]
	City of Wasilla	January 2018	July 2018	Plastic bag ban.[30]
	City of Unalaska	August 2018	January 2019	Plastic bag ban[31]
American Samoa	Territory-wide	January 2010	February 2011	Plastic bag ban for all wholesale and retail businesses.[32]
California	Statewide	September 2014	November 2016[1]	Plastic bag ban for large retailers; 10 cent charge for paper or reusable plastic* bags. A complete ban on retail plastic bags (regardless of thickness) will go into effect on January 1, 2026.[33][34] All local ordinances (listed below) supersede this legislation.
Colorado	Statewide	July 2021	January 2024	Plastic bag ban for large retailers; 10 cent charge for paper bags. A higher fee may be adopted by the municipality or county in which the store is located.[2]
	City of Aspen	October 2011	May 2012	Plastic bag ban for large retailers; 20 cent charge for paper bags.[35]
	Town of Avon		May 1, 2018	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent tax on paper bags.[36]
	City of Boulder	November 2012	July 2013	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[37]
	City of Carbondale	October 2011	May 2012	Plastic bag ban for large retailers; 20 cent charge for paper bags.[37]
	Town of Crested Butte	August 15, 2016	September 1, 2018	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[38]
	City of Denver	December 2019	July 1, 2020	10 cent charge.[39]
	City of Fort Collins	April 7, 2021	May 1, 2022	Plastic bag ban at grocers with more than 10,000 square feet.[40]
	Town of Ridgway	December 12, 2018	March 1, 2019	Plastic bag ban; bags are banned under 2.25 mils.[36]
	Town of Telluride	October 2010	March 2011	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[41]
Connecticut	Statewide		July 1, 2021	Plastic bag ban.[3]
	Town of Greenwich	March 12, 2018[42]	September 2018	Plastic bag ban. Sunsets in 3 years. Paper bags must contain 40% post-consumer content and no old-growth fiber.[43]
	Town of Norwalk	January 8, 2018[44]	July 8, 2018	Plastic bag ban.
	Town of Westport	September 2008	March 2009	Plastic bag ban. Defines acceptable "recyclable paper bag" alternatives.[45]
Delaware	Statewide	July 29, 2019[4]	January 1, 2021	Plastic bag ban applies to large stores (7,000 square feet or larger) and chains with 3 stores each larger than 3,000 square feet. Paper and reusable bags have a 10¢ fee. Compostable bags allowed.[46]
District of Columbia	District-wide	June 2009	August 2009	Minimum 5 cent fee for plastic bags.[47]
Georgia	City of South Fulton	October 2019	March 1, 2021	Single-use plastic bag ban.[48]
Guam	Territory-wide	June 5, 2018	January 1, 2021	Plastic bag ban.[49]
Hawaii1
	Hawaii County	December 2011	January 2013	Ban on compostable and non-compostable plastic checkout bags. Allows plastic bags at least 3 mils.[50]
	Honolulu City and County	2014	July 2015	Bill 10 in 2010 banned some plastic checkout bags but allowed biodegradable bags. Bill 38 in 2014 banned biodegradable plastic checkout bags but allowed compostable plastic bags. Plastic bags still allowed for carrying food and drinks, plastic bags at least 2.25 mils allowed.[51]
	Kauai County	October 2009	January 2011	Ban on plastic checkout bags made with fossil fuels. Biodegradable bags allowed.[52]
	Maui County	August 2008		Ban on compostable and non-compostable plastic checkout bags. Allows plastic bags at least 3 mils.[53]
Illinois
	City of Batavia	November 21, 2022	July 1, 2023	10-cent fee on single-use plastic and paper bags in stores with at least 5,000 square feet. No fees for bags used to package bulk items, produce, or for prescription drugs. There are some other exceptions.[54]
	Chicago	November 2016	February 1, 2017	Plastic and paper bags from retailers are taxed 10-cents per bag. Tax does not apply to bags with a retail price of at least 50¢.[55] Chicago repealed the ban it had passed April 30, 2014, that went into effect starting August 1, 2015. Reusable bags were defined as being at least 2.25 mils.[56][57] The bag tax was initially 7-cents before being raised to the current 10-cent tax on January 1, 2025.[58][59]
	City of Edwardsville	April 1, 2020	July 12, 2021	10-cent fee on single-use plastic and paper bags in stores with at least 7000 square feet.[60]
	City of Evanston	May 22, 2023	August 1, 2023	Ban on single-use plastic bags in all retail stores with at least 10,000 square feet, except for produce bags made of compostable plastic; $0.10 tax on remaining bag types at large retail stores, with some exceptions.[61] Original ban (enacted July 28, 2014, effective August 1, 2015): Bans plastic bags less than 2.25 mils at chain and franchise stores over 10,000 square feet. Biodegradable bags allowed.[62]
	Village of Northbrook	February 2023	January 1, 2024	10-cent fee on single-use plastic and paper bags in stores with at least 3,000 square feet. No fees for bags used to package bulk items, produce, or for prescription drugs; and for bags used by food assistance program participants. [63]
	Village of Oak Park	August 7, 2017	July 1, 2018	10-cent fee on single-use plastic and paper bags in stores with at least 5000 square feet.[64]
	City of Woodstock	September 17, 2019	January 1, 2020	10-cent fee on single-use plastic and paper bags in stores with at least 5000 square feet.[65]
Kansas	City of Lawrence	August 8, 2023	March 1, 2024	Single-use plastic bag ban.[66]
Maine	Statewide	June 17, 2019	July 1, 2021	Plastic bags under 4 mils thick banned. Paper bags have a 5¢ fee.[67][68]
	Town of Falmouth	January 2016	April 1, 2016	5-cent fee for single-use plastic (and paper) bags at stores greater than 10,000 square feet. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 4 mils.[69]
	City of Portland	June 2014	April 15, 2015	5-cent fee for single-use plastic (and paper) bags at pharmacies, and food and convenience stores, which is kept by the store.[70]
	City of South Portland	September 2015	March 1, 2016	5-cent fee for single-use plastic (and paper) bags at pharmacies, and food and convenience stores, which is kept by the store. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 2.25 mils.[71]
	Town of York	November 3, 2015	March 3, 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 3 mils.[72]
Maryland	City of Annapolis	July 22, 2024	January 22, 2025	Single-use plastic bag ban. $0.10 fee for paper bags.[73]
	Anne Arundel County (unincorporated)	June 5, 2023	January 1, 2024	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags will have a $0.10 fee after February 1, 2024.[74]
	City of Baltimore	January 13, 2020	October 1, 2021	Plastic bag ban. Paper and other non-plastic bags have a five-cent fee.[75]
	Baltimore County	February 6, 2023	November 1, 2023	Plastic Bag Ban. 5 cent fee for paper bags.[76]
	Town of Centreville	July 19, 2023	January 1, 2024	Single-use plastic bag ban. $0.10 fee for paper or reusable bags.[77]
	Town of Chestertown	April 4, 2011	January 2012	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 2.25 mils.[78]
	City of College Park	February 14, 2023	September 1, 2023	Plastic bag ban. 10 cent fee for other bags.[79]
	Town of Easton	September 13, 2022	April 2, 2023	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags to cost $0.10.[80]
	City of Frederick	May 4, 2023	January 1, 2024	Plastic bag ban. No fee for paper bags.[81]
	Howard County	February 5, 2020	October 1, 2020	5 cent fee for plastic bags.[82]
	City of Laurel	June 28, 2021	January 1, 2022	Plastic Bag Ban.[83]
	Montgomery County	May 2011	January 2012	Minimum 5 cent fee for plastic bags. Repealed as part of the "Bring your Own Bag" bill passed in February 2025.[84][85]
	Montgomery County	February 11, 2025	January 1, 2026	Plastic bag ban.[85]
	Prince George's County	June 20, 2023	January 1, 2024	Plastic bag ban.[86]
	City of Salisbury	November 14, 2022	July 1, 2023	Plastic bag ban.[87]
	City of Westminster	May 2019	January 1, 2020	Plastic bag ban.[88]
	City of Takoma Park	July 27, 2016	December 1, 2016	Plastic bag ban.[89]
Massachusetts
	Town of Abington	May 20, 2019	November 20, 2020	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 5 mils.[90]
	Town of Adams	June 20, 2016	March 30, 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.5 mils.[91][92]
	City of Amesbury	March 12, 2019[93]	September 12, 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils.[94]
	Town of Amherst	May 3, 2016	January 1, 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils.[95]
	Town of Andover	May 2, 2018	January 2, 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils and if plastic must be made of polypropylene or polyester.[96]
	Town of Aquinnah	May 10, 2016	January 1, 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.[97]
	Town of Arlington	April 26, 2017	March 1, 2018 (large stores)[98]	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
	Town of Arlington	April 26, 2017	July 1, 2018 (for all stores)[98]	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
	Town of Auburn	October 7, 2019[99]	March 2020	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[100]
	Town of Barnstable	September 3, 2015	September 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils.[101][102]
	Town of Bedford	March 27, 2017	October 1, 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.5 mils.[103]
	Town of Belmont	July 16, 2018	April 17, 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4.0 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[104]
	City of Beverly	June 18, 2018	January 1, 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be more than 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[105][106]
	City of Boston	December 17, 2017[107]	December 2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content. Fee of 5¢ on single-use bags. Compostable plastic bags allowed.
	Town of Bridgewater	March 8, 2016	September 2016	Plastic bag ban for chain and larger stores (basically 3000 square feet). Reusable bags must be at least 2.5 mils.[108]
	Town of Brookline	November 2012	December 1, 2013	Non-biodegradable plastic shopping bag ban for larger retailers (basically 2500 square feet), and produce bags for large supermarkets (6000 square feet). Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils (as amended on November 15, 2016).[109]
	Town of Burlington	January 28, 2019	June 28, 2019	Plastic shopping bag ban. Reusable bags cannot be made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and must be more than 3 mils thick. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[110]
	City of Cambridge	March 30, 2015	March 31, 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content. Fee of 10¢ on single-use bags. Compostable plastic bags allowed.[111]
	Town of Chatham	November 16, 2015	January 1, 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.5 mils.[112]
	City of Chicopee	October 1, 2024	June 1, 2025	Retail plastic bag ban.[113]
	Town of Chilmark	April 25, 2016	January 1, 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[114]
	Town of Cohasset	April 30, 2018[115]	November 1, 2018	Non-biodegradable plastic shopping bag ban. Reusable bags cannot be made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and must be more than 4 mils thick. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
	Town of Concord	April 2015	January 1, 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.5 mils.[116]
	Town of Dartmouth	June 5, 2018[117]	late 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 1 mil.[118]
	Town of Duxbury	March 13, 2017[119]	2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils.
	Town of Easton	November 12, 2019	June 2020	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags cannot be made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and must be at least 4 mils thick.[120]
	Town of Eastham	May 6, 2019	January 1, 2020	Plastic bag ban.[121]
	Town of Edgartown	April 12, 2016	January 1, 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.[122]
	Town of Fairhaven	May 6, 2023	January 1, 2024	Thin-film plastic bag ban.[123][124]
	Town of Falmouth	November 2014	May 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.5 mils.[125]
	Town of Framingham	May 12, 2016	January 1, 2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.5 mils.[126]
	Town of Franklin	February 12, 2020	July 1, 2020	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must have stitched handles and cannot made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[127]
	Town of Georgetown	May 7, 2018[128]	September 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be more than 2.5 mils.[129]
	City of Gloucester	November 14, 2017	January 1, 2019	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content. Reusable bags cannot be made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and must be more than 2.25 mils.[130]
	Town of Grafton	May 2017	July 1, 2018	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
	Town of Great Barrington	May 2013	2013	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.5 mils.[131]
	City of Greenfield	January 16, 2019[132]	January 2020	Plastic bag ban. Fee of 5¢ on paper bags goes into effect in January 2021.
	Town of Hadley	May 5, 2022	January 1, 2023	Single-use plastic bag ban.[133]
	Town of Hamilton	April 11, 2015	July 27, 2016	Non-biodegradable plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils.[134]
	Town of Hanson	October 7, 2019	June 1, 2020	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 20% or 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[135]
	Town of Harwich	May 4, 2015	May 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.5 mils.[136]
	City of Haverhill	August 7, 2018[137]	January 7, 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
	Town of Hudson	November 18, 2019	June 1, 2020	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 20% or 40% post-consumer recycled paper content. Reusable plastic bags cannot be made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride.[138]
	Town of Hull	May 6, 2019	January 1, 2020	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[139]
	Town of Ipswich	May 10, 2016	c. August 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils.[140]
	Town of Lee	May 10, 2016	May 10, 2017	Plastic bag ban including produce bags. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[141]
	Town of Lenox	June 9, 2016	June 9, 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[142]
	Town of Lexington	March 27, 2018	January 1, 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 2.25 mils.[143]
	Town of Lincoln	March 24, 2018	January 1, 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be more than 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[144]
	Town of Longmeadow	October 16, 2018[145]	April 16, 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be more than 4 mils. Reusable bags cannot be made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and must be more than 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
	City of Lowell	May 29, 2018	January 1, 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be more than 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[146]
	Town of Lunenburg	November 13, 2018	July 1, 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be more than 2.5 mils.[147]
	City of Lynn	April 9, 2019	September 1, 2019	Plastic bag ban.[148]
	Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea	April 2013	January 2014	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be greater than 2.5 mils. Compostable plastic bags allowed.[149]
	Town of Marblehead	May 5, 2014	May 2015	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils.[150]
	Town of Mashpee	October 17, 2016	January 1, 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.[151]
	Town of Medfield	April 28, 2019[152]	November 1, 2019	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
	City of Medford	February 2019	July 16, 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be more than 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[153]
	Town of Medway	November 19, 2019	July 1, 2020	Plastic bag ban.[154]
	City of Melrose	December 18, 2017	July 1, 2018[155]	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
	Town of Milton	October 23, 2018	July 1, 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be more than 4 mils and not made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[156]
	Town of Natick	January 10, 2017	August 1, 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2 mils. Paper bags must have at least 40% post-consumer recycled content.[157][158]
	City of Newburyport	September 8, 2014	March 29, 2015	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils.[159]
City of Newton	January 20, 2015	July 2015	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[160] And as amended on July 8, 2019, reusable bags must be more than 4 mils and not made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and there is a fee of 10¢ on all shopping bags.[161]
Town of North Andover	May 15, 2023	January 1, 2024	Plastic bag ban in food businesses with more than 3,000 square feet.[162]
Town of North Attleborough	June 3, 2019[163]	2020	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be more than 4 mils. Compostable bags allowed.[164]
City of Northampton	May 2015[165]	January 1, 2016	Plastic shopping bag ban. Reusable bags must be non-plastic. Ban includes produce bags which allows for certified compostable replacements. As amended on January 25, 2021.[166]
Town of Oak Bluffs	April 12, 2017	January 1, 2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.
City of Peabody	October 24, 2019	September 1, 2020	Plastic bag ban.[167] Reusable plastic bags must be more than 5 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[168]
Town of Pembroke	October 23, 2018	July 1, 2019	Plastic bag ban.[169]
Town of Pepperell	October 21, 2018	January 1, 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be more than 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[170]
City of Pittsfield	March 26, 2019	January 1, 2020.	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be more than 3 mils.[171]
Town of Plainville	June 3, 2019[163]	2020	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be more than 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[172]
Town of Plymouth	October 15, 2016	c. August 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[173]
Town of Provincetown	October 27, 2014	April 15, 2015	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 1.5 mils.[174]
City of Quincy	December 2, 2019		Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[175]
Town of Raynham	May 17, 2021	August 15, 2021	Single-use plastic bag ban.[176]
Town of Reading	November 16, 2017	2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags cannot be made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and must be at least 3 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[177]
City of Revere	April 22, 2019	September 1, 2019[178]	Single-use plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content. Reusable bags must be more than 4 mils.[165][179]
Town of Rockport	September 17, 2017	March 1, 2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags cannot be made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and must be more than 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content. Compostable plastic bags are permitted.[180]
Town of Sandwich	November 28, 2016	May 2017	Plastic shopping and produce bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[181]
Town of Saugus	May 6, 2019	January 1, 2020	Plastic shopping bag ban.[182]
Town of Seekonk	May 13, 2019[183]	January 1, 2020	Plastic shopping bag ban.
Town of Scituate	November 14, 2018[184]	March 1, 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags cannot be made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[185]
Town of Sharon	May 1, 2019	2020[186]	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils and not made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[187]
Town of Shrewsbury	May 17, 2016	July 1, 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[188]
City of Somerville	November 24, 2015	November 24, 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must pass a 22-pound walk test. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[189]
Town of South Hadley	May 10, 2017[190]	July 1, 2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Compostable bags allowed.
City of Springfield	April 24, 2019[191]	January 1, 2020	Plastic bag ban except for those that are compostable and marine degradable. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils and not made of polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate or polyvinyl chloride. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
Town of Stockbridge	April 2, 2017	January 2, 2018[192]	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
Town of Stoneham	November 4, 2019	May 2020	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils.[193]
Town of Tewksbury	October 2, 2018[194]	April 1, 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[195]
Town of Tisbury	April 12, 2016	January 1, 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.[122]
Town of Truro	November 5, 2015	June 1, 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 1.5 mils.[196]
City of Waltham	December 27, 2021	June 25, 2022	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.[197] Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer, recycled paper content. There is a fee of 10¢ on all shopping bags.[198]
Town of Watertown	June 7, 2016	July 1, 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer, recycled paper content.[199]
Town of Wayland	April 3, 2017[200]	2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
Town of Wellesley	April 11, 2016[201]	January 1, 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
Town of Wellfleet	April 2015	January 1, 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3.5 mils.[202]
Town of West Tisbury	April 12, 2016	January 1, 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.[122]
Town of Westborough	March 17, 2018	September 17, 2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
Town of Weston	May 10, 2017	January 1, 2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[203]
Town of Williamstown	May 19, 2015	November 2015	Plastic bag ban including produce bags and dry cleaning bags. Reusable shopping bags must be at least 4 mils.[204]
Town of Wilmington	May 5, 2018[205]	May 6, 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable shopping bags must be more than 2.5 mils.[206]
Town of Winthrop	April 2, 2020	November 1, 2020	Plastic bag ban.[207]
City of Worcester	October 15, 2019	July 1, 2020[208]	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content. Fee of 5¢ on single-use bags. Compostable plastic bags allowed.[209]
Town of Wrentham	June 3, 2019[163]	2020	Plastic bag ban. Reusable shopping bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
Town of Yarmouth	May 6, 2017	May 2018	Plastic shopping and produce bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[210]
Minnesota 3	City of Duluth	November 2019	April 2020	5 cent charge[211]
	City of Minneapolis	November 26, 2019	January 1, 2020	5 cent charge[212]
Montana	City of Bozeman	November 5, 2024	May 1, 2025	Bans the sale or distribution of polystyrene foam and the use of single-use plastic bags, straws, and stirrers.[213]
New Jersey	Statewide	November 4, 2020	May 4, 2022	Single-use plastic bags, polystyrene foam, and single-use paper bags (in grocery stores larger than 2500 sq ft) banned. Plastic straws upon request only took effect November 4th, 2021.[214]
	Borough of Avalon	September 12, 2018	June 1, 2019	Single-use plastic bags, straws, and styrofoam banned.[215]
	City of Brigantine	September 5, 2018	June 1, 2019	Single-use plastic bags banned.[216]
	Borough of Glen Rock	April 10, 2019	January 1, 2020	Single-use plastic bags banned. Minimum of $.10 fee for reusable and recyclable paper bags.[217]
	Jersey City	June 27, 2018	June 28, 2019	Single-use plastic and non-recyclable paper bags banned.[218]
	Borough of Longport	November 20, 2015	2015	A fee of not less than ten cents for each non-reusable carryout bag. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 2.25 mils.[219]
	Borough of Paramus	December 17, 2019	January 1, 2020	Single-use plastic bags banned.[220]
	Village of Ridgewood	June 2019	January 1, 2020	Single-use plastic bags banned.[221]
	City of Somers Point	July 7, 2018	January 9, 2019	A fee of not less than five cents for each non-reusable carryout bag, excluding plastic bags without handles for bulk foods. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 2.25 mils.[222][223]
	Borough of Stone Harbor	September 12, 2018	June 1, 2019	Single-use plastic bags, straws, and styrofoam banned.[215]
	City of Ventnor	February 22, 2018	October 1, 2018	A fee of not less than five cents for each non-reusable carryout paper or plastic bags.[224]
New Mexico	City of Carlsbad	September 24, 2024	February 1, 2025	Two-year trial plastic bag ban.[225]
	City of Santa Fe	August 2013	January 2014	Plastic bag ban thinner than 2.25 mm.[226]
	County of Santa Fe	March 26, 2024	October 26, 2024	Plastic bag, straw, stirrer, and polystyrene ban.[227]
	Town of Taos	March 10, 2020	November 1, 2021	Plastic bag ban  mm.[228]
	City of Las Cruces	August 16, 2021	January 1, 2022	Single-use plastic bag ban.[229]
	City of Albuquerque	April 20, 2019	January 1, 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[230] Repealed on March 7, 2022.[231]
	City of Deming	November 2019	May 16, 2021	Single-use plastic bag ban.[232]
	Town of Silver City	July 8, 2014	January 8, 2015	Single-use plastic bag ban.[233]
	County of Bernalillo	June 25, 2019	January 1, 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[234]
New York	Statewide	April 22, 2019	March 1, 2020[6]	Plastic bag ban. Counties can impose 5¢ fee on paper.[235]
	East Hampton Village	August 2011	February 2012	Plastic bag ban.[236]
	Village of Hastings on Hudson, Town of Greenburgh	November 2014	February 2015	Plastic bag ban.[237]
	Village of Mamaroneck	July 2012	January 2013	Plastic bag ban.[238]
	Town of New Castle	May 31, 2016	January 1, 2017	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must be at least 40% recycled and carry a 10¢ charge. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils. Minimum 25¢ charge for reusable bags at grocery stores, convenience stores and pharmacies.[239][240]
	Village of New Paltz	October 22, 2014	April 1, 2015	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils. Paper bags must contain "a minimum of 40% postconsumer recycled content".[241]
	Village of Patchogue	June 8, 2015	September 6, 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils.[242]
	City of Rye	December 2011	May 2012	Plastic bag ban.[243]
	Village of Southampton	April 2011	November 2011	Plastic bag ban.[244]
	Suffolk County	September 2016	January 2018	5¢ fee for single-use plastic and paper bags. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils.[245]
	Ulster County	September 2018	July 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain "a minimum of 40% postconsumer recycled content. 5¢ fee for single-use plastic and paper bags.[246]
North Carolina	Outer Banks (Dare, Currituck, and Hyde Counties)	June 2009	October 1, 2010	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils. Paper bags must be at least 40% recycled.[247] Bag ban overridden on April 10, 2017, with passage of House Bill 56.[248]
Northern Mariana Islands	Territory-wide			Plastic bag ban.[249][250]
Ohio	City of Athens	May 1, 2023	January 1, 2024	Plastic bag ban.[251]
	Cuyahoga County	May 28, 2019	January 1, 2020	Plastic bag ban.[252]
	City of Bexley	May 2019	January 1, 2020	Plastic bag ban.[253]
Oregon	Statewide		January 1, 2020	Plastic bag ban; 5 cent charge for paper bags.[7]
	City of Corvallis	July 2012		Plastic bag ban; 5 cent charge for paper bags.
	City of Eugene	October 2012	May 1, 2013	Plastic bag ban; 5 cent charge for paper bags. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.[254]
	City of Portland	July 2011	October 2011	Plastic bag ban.[255] Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.[256]
Pennsylvania	Abington Township	February 13, 2025	August 12, 2025	Plastic bag ban.[257]
	Borough of Ambler	August 16, 2022	August 16, 2022	Plastic bag and expanded polystyrene ban.[258]
	Cheltenham Township	December 7, 2022	January 1, 2024	Plastic bag ban. 10-cent fee for paper bags.[259]
	Borough of Doylestown	December 19, 2022	June 17, 2023	Single-use plastic bag ban.[260]
	Doylestown Township	May 21, 2024	November 17, 2024	Single-use plastic bag ban. Five-cent fee for paper or reusable bag.[261][262]
	Easttown Township	June 20, 2022	January 1, 2023	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at last 40% recycled content.[263][264]
	Haverford Township	April 11, 2022	January 1, 2023	Plastic bag and stirrer ban.[265]
	Lancaster Township	August 14, 2023	January 1, 2024	Single-use plastic bag ban.[266]
	Lower Merion Township	June 21, 2023	January 21, 2024	Plastic bag ban. $0.10 fee for paper bags.[267]
	Borough of Media	July 21, 2022	January 1, 2023	Plastic bag ban.[268]
	Montgomery Township	September 26, 2023	April 22, 2024	Plastic bag, straw, and polystyrene container ban.[269]
	Borough of Narberth	October 18, 2018	April 18, 2019	Plastic bag ban.[270]
	Borough of Newtown	March 12, 2024	September 14, 2024	Single-use plastic bag, expanded polystyrene, and plastic straw ban.[271]
	Newtown Township (Bucks County)	December 6, 2023	April 9, 2024	Plastic bag, plastic straw, and polystyrene food container ban.[272]
	City of Pittsburgh	April 11, 2022	October 14, 2023	Plastic bag ban; 10-cent charge for paper bags.[273][274]
	City of Philadelphia	December 2019	October 1, 2021	Plastic bags under 2.25 mils thick banned.[275]
	Borough of Phoenixville	January 9, 2024	January 1, 2025	Plastic bag ban.[276]
	Radnor Township	August 15, 2022	February 15, 2023	Plastic bag ban; 10-cent charge for paper bags.[277]
	Solebury Township	June 21, 2022	September 19, 2022	Plastic bag, straw, and polystyrene food container ban. 10-cent charge for recyclable paper bags.[278]
	Springfield Township (Montgomery County)	August 9, 2023	February 1, 2024	Single-use plastic bag ban.[279]
	Borough of Swarthmore	June 12, 2023	January 8, 2024	SIngle-use plastic bag ban, expanded polystyrene, and #6 polystyrene ban.[280]
	Tredyffrin Township	September 19, 2022	March 18, 2023	Plastic bag ban.[281]
	Upper Dublin Township	March 12, 2024	September 8, 2024	Single-use plastic bag ban.[282]
	Upper Merion Township	July 13, 2023	January 1, 2024	Single-use utensils, foam plastic, bags, and straw ban.[283]
	Upper Moreland Township	July 10, 2023	January 1, 2024	Single-use plastic bag ban.[284]
	Uwchlan Township	September 12, 2022	September 17, 2022	Ban on plastic bags, $0.15 fee for other bags.[285]
	Borough of West Chester	July 2019	January 1, 2022	Plastic bag and straw ban.[286]
	West Goshen Township	December 21, 2021	April 22, 2022	Plastic bag and straw ban.[287]
	West Norriton Township	November 8, 2022	April 22, 2023	Plastic bag ban.[288]
	West Vincent Township	July 15, 2024	October 13, 2024	Single-use plastic bag ban, $0.10 fee for paper bags[289]
	Whitemarsh Township	July 13, 2023	October 11, 2023	Plastic bag ban.[290]
Puerto Rico	Territory-wide	October 2015	July 2016	Plastic bag ban initially by executive order and now a law.[10][11]
Rhode Island	Statewide	June 29, 2022	January 1, 2024, or one year after the Department of Environmental Management sets up regulations, whichever comes first	Plastic bag ban.[291]
	Town of Barrington	October 2012	January 2013	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils (as amended on February 1, 2016).[292]
	Town of Bristol			Plastic bag ban.[293]
	City of Cranston	August 22, 2019	January 1, 2021	Single-use plastic bag ban.[294]
	Town of East Greenwich	October 15, 2019	January 15, 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[295]
	City of East Providence	May 7, 2019	November 7, 2019	Single-use plastic bag ban.[296]
	Town of Jamestown	September 18, 2017	November 1, 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.[297]
	Town of Middletown	May 1, 2017	November 1, 2017	Single-use plastic bag ban.[298]
	Town of Narragansett	February 8, 2022	January 1, 2023	Single-use plastic bag ban.[299]
	City of Newport		November 1, 2017	Single-use plastic bag ban.[300]
	Town of New Shoreham		January 1, 2018	Single-use plastic bag ban.[301]
	Town of Portsmouth	March 12, 2019	September 1, 2018	Single-use plastic bag ban.[302]
	City of Providence	May 1, 2019	October 22, 2019	Single-use plastic bag ban.[303]
	Town of South Kingstown	June 2018	January 1, 2019	Single-use plastic bag ban.[304]
	Town of Warren	June 12, 2018	December 12, 2018	Single-use plastic bag ban.[305]
	Town of Westerly	April 22, 2019	January 1, 2020	Prohibits the distribution of single-use plastic carryout bags at retail stores, restaurants and farmers markets.[306]
South Carolina	Town of Arcadia Lakes	February 7, 2019	March 1, 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.
	Beaufort County	January 22, 2018	November 1, 2018	Prohibits businesses within unincorporated county limits from providing single use plastic carryout bags to customers.[307]
	Town of Bluffton	February 13, 2018	November 1, 2018	Single-use plastic bag ban.[308]
	City of Camden	March 26, 2019	January 1, 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[309]
	City of Charleston	November 27, 2018	January 1, 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[310]
	County of Charleston	March 2019	January 1, 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[311]
	Town of Edisto Beach	April 11, 2019	January 1, 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[312]
	Town of Hilton Head Island	January 10, 2018	November 1, 2018	Single-use plastic bag ban.[313]
	City of Isle of Palms	March 2019	January 1, 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[314]
	Town of James Island	November 2019	January 1, 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[315]
	Town of Mount Pleasant	April 10, 2018	April 16, 2019.	Single-use plastic bag ban.[316]
	City of North Myrtle Beach	November 15, 2021	July 1, 2022	Single-use plastic bag ban.[317]
	Town of Port Royal	February 14, 2018	November 1, 2019	Single-use plastic bag ban.[318]
	Town of Seabrook Island	July 23, 2019	January 1, 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[319]
	Town of Surfside Beach	January 23, 2018	June 1, 2018	Single-use plastic bag ban.[320]
Texas2	City of Austin	March 2012	March 2013	Plastic bag and paper bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 4 mils.[321] Overturned by Texas Supreme Court in 2018.[322]
	City of Brownsville	December 15, 2009	January 5, 2011	Single-use bag ban. $1 charge per transaction for any number of single-use plastic or paper bags. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils if plastic or 65# if paper.[323] Overturned by Texas Supreme Court in 2018.[322]
	City of Dallas	March 2014	January 2015	5¢ fee for single-use plastic and paper bags. (Ban on all single-use bags on city property or city events.) Reusable plastic bags must be at least 4 mils.[324] Overturned by Texas Supreme Court in 2018.[322]
	City of Fort Stockton		September 2011	Plastic bag ban. Overturned by Texas Supreme Court in 2018.[322]
	City of South Padre Island	January 2011	January 2012	Plastic bag ban.[325] Overturned by Texas Supreme Court in 2018.[322]
United States Virgin Islands	Territory-wide	October 7, 2016	January 1, 2017	Plastic bag ban.[326]
Utah	City of Moab	September 10, 2018	January 1, 2019	Plastic bag ban.[327]
	City of Park City	May 15, 2017	June 2017	Plastic bag ban.[328]
	City of Logan	December 3, 2019	January 1, 2022 (repealed before taking effect)	Plastic bag ban.[329] Repealed on December 7, 2021, before taking effect.[330]
Vermont	Statewide	June 17, 2019	July 1, 2020	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags have a 10¢ fee.[8]
	Town of Brattleboro	November 21, 2017[331]	July 1, 2018	Plastic bag ban. Plastic reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils thick. Certified compostable bags allowed.[332]
Virginia	Albemarle County	May 4, 2022	January 1, 2023	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[333]
	City of Alexandria	September 18, 2021	January 1, 2022	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[334]
	Arlington County	September 18, 2021	January 1, 2022	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[335]
	City of Charlottesville	August 1, 2022	January 1, 2023	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[336]
	City of Fairfax	July 12, 2022	January 1, 2023	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[337]
	Fairfax County	September 14, 2021	January 1, 2022	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[335]
	City of Falls Church	December 13, 2021	April 1, 2022	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[338]
	City of Fredericksburg	September 28, 2021	January 1, 2022	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[339]
	Loudoun County	January 18, 2022	July 1, 2022	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[340]
	City of Roanoke	May 17, 2021	January 1, 2022	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[341]
Washington	Statewide	March 25, 2020	October 1, 2021	Plastic bag ban. 8 cent charge for paper bags.[342][343] Implementation delayed from January to July 2021 by COVID-19 pandemic.[344][345]
	City of Bainbridge Island	April 2012	November 2012	Plastic bag ban. 5 cent charge for paper bags.[346]
	City of Bellingham	July 2011	July 2012	Plastic bag ban. 5 cent minimum charge for paper bags.[347]
	City of Edmonds		July 2009	Plastic bag ban.
	City of Ellensburg	November 7, 2016	January 1, 2018	Plastic and paper bag fee. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils. 5 cent charge for all carry-out bags.[348][349]
	City of Issaquah	June 2012	March 2013	Plastic bag ban.[350]
	City of Mukilteo	December 2011	January 2013	Plastic bag ban.[351]
	City of North Bend	December 2018	January 1, 2019	Plastic bag ban.[352]
	City of Olympia	October 2013	July 2014	Plastic bag ban. 5 cent charge for paper bags.[353]
	City of Port Angeles	April 3, 2018	July 3, 2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils. 5 cent charge for all carry-out bags.[354]
	City of Port Townsend	July 2012	November 2012	Plastic bag ban. 5 cent charge for paper bags.[355]
	City of Seattle	December 2011	July 2012	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils. Minimum 5 cent charge for paper bags.[356]
	City of Shoreline	April 2013	February 2014	Plastic bag ban. 5 cent charge for paper bags.[357]
	Thurston County (unincorporated areas)	September 2013	July 2014	Plastic bag ban. 5 cent charge for paper bags.[358]
	City of Tacoma	July 2016	July 12, 2017	Plastic bag ban. 5 cent minimum charge for each recycled paper or reusable checkout bag requested by customers.
	City of Tumwater	September 2013	July 2014	Plastic bag ban. 5 cent charge for paper bags.[359]
Wyoming	City of Jackson	January 8, 2019	April 15, 2019	Plastic bag ban. 20 cent charge for paper bags or reusable plastic bags (greater than 4 mils thick).[360][361]

Notes

• ¹ Although the state of Hawaii does not ban plastic bags, all of its local jurisdictions do, effectively banning them statewide.^[362]
• ² On June 22, 2018, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that a bag ban implemented by Laredo, TX was in violation of state law.^[363] In response, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent letters to 11 other Texas cities with bag bans telling them that such bans were now illegal and unenforceable. On July 3, 2018, the City of Austin announced that it would end enforcement of its bag ban.^[364]
• ³Minnesota has a preemption on local laws that ban plastic bags, but allows for fees on them instead.^[365]

California

Californians voted in November 2016 to approve state legislation banning plastic bags statewide in Propositions 67 and 65.^[366] Over 100 local laws with similar or tougher regulations will remain and supersede the statewide legislation.

Local laws governing plastic bag use in California

Region	County	Jurisdictions covered	Passage date	Effective date	Effect
Central Valley	Sacramento County	Sacramento	2015 – March	2016 – January	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[367][368]
		Unincorporated territories	2016 – April	2016 – July
	Yolo County	Davis	2013 – November	2014 – July	Plastic bag ban.[369]
Greater Los Angeles Area	Los Angeles County	Beverly Hills[370]	2014 – April 22	2014 – July 1	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.
		Calabasas[371]	2011 – February	2011 – July
		Culver City[372]	2013 – May	2013 – December
		Glendale[373]	2013 – January	2013 – July
		Hermosa Beach[374]	–	2016 – April
		Long Beach[375]	2012 – February	2013 – January
		Los Angeles[376]	2013 – June	2014 – January
		Malibu[377]	2008 – May	2009 – May	Plastic bag ban.
		Manhattan Beach[378]	2008 – July	2011 – July
		Monrovia[379]	2014 – July	2015 – January	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.
		Pasadena[380]	2011 – November	2012 – July
		Pico Rivera[381]	2014 – October	2016 – July
		Santa Monica[382]	2011 – February	2011 – September
		South Pasadena[383]	2014 – October	2014 – December
		West Hollywood[384]	2012 – August	2013 – February
		Unincorporated territories[385]	2010 – November	2012 – January
	Orange County	Dana Point	2012 – March	2013 – April	Plastic bag ban.[386]
		Huntington Beach	2013 – April	2013 – November	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[387]
		Laguna Beach	2012 – February	2013 – January	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[388]
	Riverside County	Cathedral City	2015 – July	2016 – February	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[389]
		Desert Hot Springs	2014 – March	2014 – September	Plastic bag ban. Small fee for paper bag.[390]
		Indio	2014 – May	2014 – November	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[391]
		Palm Desert	2014 – May	2015 – October	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[392]
		Palm Springs	2014 – April	2014 – November	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[393]
	Ventura County	Ojai	2012 – April	2012 – July	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[394]
Northern California	Butte County	Chico	2014 – May	2015 – January	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[395]
	El Dorado County	South Lake Tahoe	2013 – October	2014 – February	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[396]
	Humboldt County	Arcata	–	2014 – February	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[397]
	Mendocino County	Fort Bragg[398]	2012 – May	2013 – December	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.
		Ukiah[399]	2012 – May	2013 – February
		Unincorporated territories[400]	2012 – June	2013 – January
	Mono County	Mammoth Lakes	–	2016 – March	Plastic bag ban.[401]
	Monterey County	Carmel-by-the-Sea[402]	2012 – July	2013 – February	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.
		Greenfield[403]	2014 – August	2015 – February
		Gonzales[404]	2014 – July	2015 – January
		Pacific Grove[405]	2014 – August	2015 – March
		King City[406]	2014 – September	2015 – January
		Marina[407]	–	2014 – August
		Monterey	2011 – December	2012 – June	Plastic bag ban; 25 cent charge for paper bags.[408]
		Salinas[409]	–	2014 – August	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.
		Seaside[410]	2014 – August	2015 – September
		Soledad[411]	2014 – October	2015 – May
		Unincorporated territories[412]	–	2014 – August
	Nevada County	Grass Valley	2014 – August	2015 – January	Plastic bag ban. Small fee for paper bag.[413]
		Nevada City	2014 – June	2015 – July	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[414]
		Truckee	2013 – November	2014 – June	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[415]
Greater San Francisco Bay Area	Alameda County	Alameda	2012 – January	2013 – January	Plastic bag ban for food and liquor stores, and pharmacies; reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[416]
		Albany
		Berkeley
		Dublin
		Emeryville
		Fremont
		Hayward
		Livermore
		Oakland
		Piedmont
		Pleasanton
		San Leandro
		Union City
		Unincorporated territories
	Contra Costa County
		Danville	2014 – December	2016 – July	Plastic bag ban.[417]
		Hercules	2014 – September	2015 – January	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[418]
		Lafayette	2014 – December	2015 – July	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[406]
		Martinez	–	2014	Plastic bag ban.[419]
		Pittsburg	2013 – October	2014 – January	Plastic bag ban; phased charge for paper bags until 25 cents in the third year.[420]
		Pleasant Hill	–	2014 – August	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[421]
		Richmond	2013 – July	2014 – January	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[422]
		San Pablo	2013 – October	2014 – January	Plastic bag ban. Ten cent fee for paper bag.[390]
		Walnut Creek	2014 – March	2014 – September	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[423]
	Marin County
		Corte Madera[424]	2015 – July	2015 – September	Plastic bag ban. 10 cent charge for paper bag.
		Fairfax[425]	2007 – August	2008 – November	Plastic bag ban. 10 cent charge for paper bag.
		Larkspur[426]	2014 – May	2014 – November
		Mill Valley	2013 – October 21	2013 – November 21[427]	Plastic bag ban; 5 cent charge for paper bags.[428]
		Novato[429]	–	2014 – March	Plastic bag ban. 10 cent charge for paper bag.
		Ross[430]	2014 – September	2015 – April
		San Anselmo[431]	–	2015 – January
		San Rafael[432]	2014 – March	2014 – September
		Sausalito[433]	–	2014 – March
		Tiburon[434]	–	2014 – September
		Unincorporated territories	2011 – January	2012 – January	Plastic bag ban.[435]
	Napa County
		American Canyon	–	2016 – January	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[436]
		Calistoga	2014 – August	2015 – January	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[437]
		Napa	Napa	2014 – August	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[438]
		St. Helena	2014 – August	2015 – January	Plastic bag ban. Ten cent fee for paper bag.[439]
		Yountville	2016 – February	2016 – March	Plastic bag ban. Ten cent fee for paper bag.[440]
		Unincorporated territories	2016 – January	2016 – July	Plastic bag ban. Ten cent fee for paper bag.[441]
	San Francisco City and County	San Francisco	2007 – April		Limited plastic bag ban.
			2012 – February	2012 – October	Expansion of ban to cover all retail stores in 2012 and all restaurants in 2013. 10 cent charge for paper bags.[442]
	San Mateo County	Belmont	2013 – January	2013 – April	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[443]
		Brisbane	2013 – March
		Burlingame
		Colma	2013 – January
		Daly City
		East Palo Alto	2013 – April	2013 – October
		Half Moon Bay	2013 – March	2013 – April
		Menlo Park
		Millbrae[444]	2012 – February	2012 – September
		Pacifica	2012 – December	2013 – April
		Portola Valley	2013 – January
		Redwood City	2013 – March	2013 – October
		San Bruno	2013 – January	2013 – April
		San Carlos	2013 – March	2013 – July
		San Mateo[445]	2013 – May	2013 – June
		South San Francisco	2012 – December	2013 – April
		Unincorporated territories	2012 – November
	Santa Clara County	Campbell1[443]	2013 – July	2014 – January	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.
		Cupertino[446]	2013 – March	2013 – October
Los Altos1[443]		2013 – March	2013 – July
Los Gatos1[443]		2013 – September	2014 – February
Milpitas[447]		2015 – September	2016 – July
Morgan Hill[448]		2013 – October	2014 – April
Mountain View1[443]		2012 – December	2013 – April
Palo Alto[449]
		2013 – May	2013 – July
San Jose[450]		2011 – January	2012 – January
Santa Clara[451]		2014 – September	2014 – December
Sunnyvale[452]		2011 – December	2012 – June
Unincorporated territories[453]		2011 – April	2012 – January
Santa Cruz County	Capitola	2013 – January	2013 – April	Plastic bag ban; 25 cent charge for paper bags.[454]
	Santa Cruz	2012 – July	2013 – April	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[455]
	Watsonville	2012 – May	2012 – June	Plastic bag ban; 25 cent charge for paper bags.[456]
	Unincorporated territories	2011 – September	2012 – March	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[457]
		2012 – October	2013 – April	Expansion of ban to restaurants.[458]
Sonoma County	Cloverdale	2014 – February	2014 – September	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[459]
	Cotati
	Healdsburg
	Petaluma
	Rohnert Park
	Santa Rosa[460]
	Sebastopol
	Sonoma
	Windsor
	Unincorporated territories[461]
Southern California	San Diego County	Del Mar	2016 – May	2016 – November (retail) 2017 – May (restaurants)	Plastic bag ban.[462]
		Encinitas	2014 – September	2015 – April	Plastic bag ban. Small fee for paper bag.[463]
		San Diego	2016 – July	2017 – January	Plastic bag ban. Ten cent fee for paper bag.[464]
		Solana Beach	2012 – May	2012 – June	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[465]
	San Luis Obispo County	Arroyo Grande	2012 – January	2012 – October	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[466]
		Atascadero
		Grover Beach
		Morro Bay
		Paso Robles
		Pismo Beach
		San Luis Obispo
		Unincorporated territories
	Santa Barbara County	Carpinteria	2012 – March	2012 – July	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[467]
		Santa Barbara	2013 – October	2014 – December	Plastic bag ban. Ten cent fee for paper bag.[468]

Notes:

• ¹ The San Mateo County Environmental Impact Report also studied six cities in neighboring Santa Clara County. Campbell, Los Altos, Los Gatos, and Mountain View opted to join San Mateo County's ordinance because of this.
• *A loophole in the bag ban allowed for "reusable" plastic bags to be sold at checkout. The bags looked and acted just like the previous single-use plastic bags but were just thicker, and customers still used them as though they were single use. (Hines, Fiona (August 16, 2024), The Problem with "Reusable" Plastic Bags)