Single-Use Items in San Antonio, TX (2026)
3 verified single-use items rules for San Antonio, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Plastic Bag Rules
San Antonio cannot enforce a plastic bag ban or fee. Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.0961 preempts local checkout-bag ordinances, as the Texas Supreme Court confirmed in City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Ass'n (2018). San Antonio considered a ban in 2013 but tabled it pending the appellate ruling; after Laredo, the city dropped the proposal entirely.
San Antonio Plastic Bag Ban: Preempted by Texas State Law
Few RestrictionsPolystyrene Foam Rules
San Antonio has no ordinance restricting expanded polystyrene foam cups, plates, or takeout containers. Texas state law preempts local container bans, so restaurants and retailers may freely use foam packaging across the city.
Polystyrene Foam: No San Antonio Ban
Few RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 361.0961(a)
Sec. 361.0961. RESTRICTIONS ON AUTHORITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION. (a) A local government or other political subdivision may not adopt an ordinance, rule, or regulation to: (1) prohibit or restrict, for solid waste management purposes, the sale or use of a container or package in a manner not authorized by state law; (2) prohibit or restrict the processing of solid was...
Plastic Straw Rules
San Antonio does not regulate plastic straws or stirrers. Texas state law preempts city container regulations, and restaurants may distribute single-use plastic straws freely without on-request or upon-request limits anywhere in the city.
Plastic Straws: No San Antonio Restriction
Few RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 361.0961(a)
Sec. 361.0961. RESTRICTIONS ON AUTHORITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION. (a) A local government or other political subdivision may not adopt an ordinance, rule, or regulation to: (1) prohibit or restrict, for solid waste management purposes, the sale or use of a container or package in a manner not authorized by state law; ... or (3) assess a fee or deposit on the sale or us...
Looking for Bexar County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Antonio city rules.
Single-Use Items in Bexar County →