Single-Use Items in Chicago, IL (2026)
4 verified single-use items rules for Chicago, Illinois, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Plastic Bag Rules
Chicago does NOT ban plastic carryout bags. Instead, since February 1, 2017, the city imposes a 7-cent checkout bag tax on every paper or plastic bag provided by retailers. Five cents goes to the city, 2 cents stays with the retailer. The earlier 2015 outright thin-plastic ban was repealed because it failed (retailers switched to thicker plastic).
Chicago 7-Cent Checkout Bag Tax (no ban)
Some RestrictionsPolystyrene Foam Rules
Chicago has no citywide ban on expanded polystyrene foam food containers as of 2026. Specific rules cover Park District facilities, McCormick Place, and city-purchased food service. Restaurants and stores may otherwise still use foam clamshells and cups.
No general Chicago foam ban; facility-specific rules apply
Few RestrictionsPlastic Straw Rules
Chicago Municipal Code chapter 7-38 bars food and beverage establishments from automatically providing single-use plastic straws and stirrers. Servers must give a straw only if a customer asks. Self-service straw stations and pre-set straws on tables are prohibited.
Plastic straws on customer request only in Chicago
Some RestrictionsUtensils-On-Request
Chicago has not adopted a utensils-on-request rule like California's SB 1276. Restaurants may bundle plastic utensils with takeout. A 2023 City Council proposal to require on-request-only service stalled in committee but remains under consideration.
Chicago Has No Statewide-Style Utensils-On-Request Mandate Yet
Few RestrictionsLooking for Cook County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Chicago city rules.
Single-Use Items in Cook County →