Single-Use Items in San Jose, CA (2026)
4 verified single-use items rules for San Jose, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Plastic Bag Rules
San Jose adopted its Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB) Ordinance effective January 1, 2012, banning single-use plastic carryout bags at all retailers (one of the earliest large-city bans). Paper bags carry a minimum 10-cent fee with 40% recycled content. SB 1053 ends the thicker reusable plastic exemption January 1, 2026.
San Jose Bring Your Own Bag Ordinance
Heavy RestrictionsPolystyrene Foam Rules
San Jose's Polystyrene Foam Foodware Ordinance under SJMC Chapter 9.10, effective 2014, prohibits restaurants and food vendors from using expanded polystyrene cups, plates, clamshells, and trays citywide.
San Jose Polystyrene Foam Foodware Ban Since 2014
Heavy RestrictionsPlastic Straw Rules
California AB-1884 prohibits dine-in restaurants from automatically providing plastic straws unless requested, and San Jose layers SJMC Chapter 9.10 single-use foodware rules pushing toward compostable or paper alternatives.
Plastic Straws On Request Only Under California AB-1884
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Public Resources Code § 42270
(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 discarded, and not designed for repeated use and sanitizing.
Utensils-On-Request
California Assembly Bill 1276 (Health and Safety Code Section 42271) prohibits food-service businesses statewide from automatically providing single-use foodware accessories, requiring customer request first. San Jose enforces alongside SJMC Chapter 9.10 single-use foodware rules.
Plastic Utensils Available Only on Request in San Jose
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Public Resources Code § 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.
Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Jose city rules.
Single-Use Items in Santa Clara County →