Arlington vs Fort Worth
How do plastic straw rules rules compare between Arlington, TX and Fort Worth, TX?
Arlington and Fort Worth have similar restriction levels.
Arlington, TX
Tarrant County
Texas preemption of local container regulations and the absence of state straw rules mean Arlington restaurants may freely offer plastic straws without on-request restrictions.
View full Arlington rules →Fort Worth, TX
Tarrant County
Texas state law preempts local regulation of single-use food service items including plastic straws. Fort Worth has no straw ban or upon-request rule; restaurants distribute plastic straws freely without local penalties or fees.
View full Fort Worth rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Arlington | Fort Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Local straw rule | None | - |
| Preemption basis | Tex. Solid Waste Disposal Act | - |
| ADA accommodation | Required on request | - |
| Voluntary paper-straw switch | Common at chains | - |
| Preempting Statute | - | Texas H&S Code Sec. 361.0961 |
| Fort Worth Rule | - | No straw ban or request rule |
| Voluntary Programs | - | Environmental education only |
| Customer Right | - | Refuse straw at restaurants |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Arlington FAQ
Can Arlington require restaurants to ask before giving a straw?
Probably not. The Laredo Merchants reasoning extends to disposable food-service items, so a local on-request rule would likely be preempted by state law.
Do restaurants have to keep plastic straws for disabled customers?
Effectively yes. Federal ADA reasonable-accommodation rules require flexible plastic straws when alternatives do not work, even at venues that default to paper.
Fort Worth FAQ
Are plastic straws legal in Fort Worth restaurants?
Yes. Fort Worth has no plastic straw ban or upon-request requirement. Texas state law preempts local regulation, so restaurants freely distribute plastic straws to customers without restriction.
Can Fort Worth require straws only by request?
Not under current Texas law. Section 361.0961 preempts local single-use item ordinances per the Laredo Supreme Court decision. Texas legislative changes would be required first.
Compare other topics
See how Arlington and Fort Worth compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool