Single-Use Items in Los Angeles, CA (2026)
5 verified single-use items rules for Los Angeles, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Plastic Bag Rules
Los Angeles bans plastic single-use carryout bags at grocery stores, pharmacies, drug stores, and convenience stores (Article 2), and extends the ban to apparel stores, food/beverage facilities, hardware stores, and markets (Article 2.1). Recyclable paper bags may still be offered at a mandatory $0.10 charge.
Single Use Items: Plastic Bags
Significant RestrictionsLos Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) §§ 195.02, 195.06, 195.10
SEC. 195.02. PROHIBITED CARRYOUT BAGS. A. No Store shall provide to any Customer a Plastic Single-Use Carryout Bag for the purpose of carrying away goods or other materials from the point of sale. B. No Store shall provide to any Customer a Paper Single-Use Carryout Bag for the purpose of carrying away goods or other materials from the point of sale, except as otherwise provided in th...
Polystyrene Foam Rules
Los Angeles bans the distribution, sale, or provision of expanded polystyrene (EPS/Styrofoam) products including food/beverage containers, egg cartons, food trays, shipping boxes, and packing peanuts by food/beverage facilities and retail establishments. Large businesses (26+ employees) had to comply by April 2023; all others by April 2024.
Single Use Items: Polystyrene
Significant RestrictionsLos Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) §§ 198.01–198.02
SEC. 198.01. DEFINITIONS. B. "Expanded Polystyrene" means polystyrene that has been expanded or "blown", using a gaseous blowing agent, into a solid foam and is sometimes known by the trade name Styrofoam™. E. "Expanded Polystyrene Product(s)" means a product made from Expanded Polystyrene associated with food or beverage service, and includes, but is not limited to, such products as ...
Plastic Straw Rules
Los Angeles Ordinance 185489 (LAMC section 195.20) bars food and beverage facilities from automatically providing single-use plastic straws. Straws must be offered only on request and ideally non-plastic. California AB-1884 imposes a parallel statewide rule on full-service restaurants.
Plastic straws only on customer request in LA
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Public Resources Code Sec. 42270 (Single-Use Foodware Accessories — Definitions, including Straws)
42270. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply: (a) "Consumer" has the same meaning as in Section 113757 of the Health and Safety Code. (b) "Food facility" has the same meaning as in Section 113789 of the Health and Safety Code. (c) "Ready-to-eat food" has the same meaning as in Section 113881 of the Health and Safety Code. (d) "Single-use" means designed to be used once a...
Utensils-On-Request
California AB-1276 and Los Angeles implementation require food facilities to provide single-use utensils, straws, condiment packets, and stirrers only when the customer specifically requests them or selects them at a self-service station.
Single-use utensils and accessories only on customer request
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Public Resources Code Sec. 42271 (Single-Use Foodware Accessories — Provided Only on Customer Request)
42271. (a) Except as provided in subdivisions (c) and (d), a food facility, for on-premises dining or when using a third-party food delivery platform, shall not provide any single-use foodware accessory or standard condiment packaged for single use to a consumer unless the single-use foodware accessory or standard condiment is requested by the consumer. (b) Single-use foodware accessories and s...
Takeout Containers
Los Angeles bans food and beverage facilities from serving food or drinks in expanded polystyrene containers such as cups, bowls, plates, and clamshells. Large facilities (26+ employees) had to comply by April 2023; all other food/beverage facilities by April 2024.
Single Use Items: Takeout Containers
Significant RestrictionsLos Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) §§ 198.01–198.02, 198.04
SEC. 198.01. E. "Expanded Polystyrene Product(s)" means a product made from Expanded Polystyrene associated with food or beverage service, and includes, but is not limited to, such products as cups, bowls, plates, clamshells, Egg Cartons, Food Trays, coolers, and ice chests that are made from Expanded Polystyrene. SEC. 198.02. PROHIBITION OF DISTRIBUTION AND SALE OF EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE PROD...
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