Single-Use Items in San Diego, CA (2026)
3 verified single-use items rules for San Diego, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Plastic Bag Rules
San Diego banned single-use plastic carryout bags effective June 22, 2017 at large stores and August 1, 2017 at smaller retailers. Retailers must charge at least 10 cents per recycled-content paper or reusable bag. The city ordinance now operates alongside California SB 270 and the SB 1053 phase-out of plastic reusables (Jan 2026).
San Diego Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban
Heavy RestrictionsPolystyrene Foam Rules
San Diego SDMC section 66.0701 et seq. bans food vendors and city facilities from using expanded polystyrene foam containers, cups, plates, trays, and coolers. Phase-in dates ended in 2019, and the ban is now full citywide.
Expanded polystyrene foam containers banned citywide
Heavy RestrictionsPlastic Straw Rules
California AB-1884 (Public Resources Code section 42270) bars full-service restaurants from automatically providing single-use plastic straws. San Diego aligns through SDMC section 66.0701 plastics rules and County Public Health enforcement, requiring straws on request only.
Plastic straws only on customer request in San Diego
Some RestrictionsCal. Public Resources Code § 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 and then...
Looking for San Diego County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Diego city rules.
Single-Use Items in San Diego County →