Salt Lake City's Relaxed Approach to Single-Use Items: What's Allowed

Salt Lake City maintains 198 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with single-use items. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Salt Lake City falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Plastic Bag Rules

Utah Code §10-9a-528 enacted in 2019 prohibits Utah cities and counties from banning, taxing, or regulating single-use plastic bags. Salt Lake City cannot adopt a plastic bag ban or fee; only voluntary retailer programs operate.

Key details: State law: Utah §10-9a-528 (2019). Local ban: Preempted, not allowed. Retailer programs: Voluntary only. City response: Education and outreach.

Because state law preempts local regulation, no city-level bag ban violations exist. Retailers face no city fines for offering plastic bags, though they may voluntarily restrict.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Salt Lake City gives residents more flexibility on plastic bag rules.

Polystyrene Foam Rules

Utah Code §10-9a-528 preempts Salt Lake City from banning polystyrene foam takeout containers. Restaurants may voluntarily switch to alternative materials, but no local mandate exists. Many SLC restaurants choose compostable or recyclable packaging.

Key details: Preemption: Utah §10-9a-528. Local ban: Not permitted. Restaurant choice: Voluntary phaseout. City programs: Education and incentives.

No local violations exist for foam container use because state law preempts municipal regulation. Restaurants face no city penalty for using polystyrene takeout packaging.

Salt Lake City is more permissive than most cities when it comes to polystyrene foam rules. That said, there are still limits.

Plastic Straw Rules

Utah Code §10-9a-528 preempts Salt Lake City from regulating single-use plastic straws. Restaurants may choose to offer straws on request only, switch to paper alternatives, or eliminate them voluntarily, but no city ordinance can compel them.

Key details: Preemption: Utah §10-9a-528. On-request rule: Voluntary only. ADA: Accommodation always required. City role: Education, outreach.

Because state preemption blocks local regulation, no straw-related city violations exist. Restaurants offering plastic straws face no Salt Lake City code enforcement.

Salt Lake City is more permissive than most cities when it comes to plastic straw rules. That said, there are still limits.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Salt Lake City gives residents more room on single-use items. 3 of the 3 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

These rules come from Salt Lake City's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.