Plastic Straw Rules: Chicago vs Skokie
How do plastic straw rules rules compare between Chicago, IL and Skokie, IL?
Skokie has fewer restrictions than Chicago.
Chicago, IL
Cook County
Chicago Municipal Code chapter 7-38 bars food and beverage establishments from automatically providing single-use plastic straws and stirrers. Servers must give a straw only if a customer asks. Self-service straw stations and pre-set straws on tables are prohibited.
View full Chicago rules →Skokie, IL
Cook County
Illinois has no statewide straws-on-request law and Cook County imposes none. Restaurants may freely offer plastic straws to customers. A few Cook County suburbs encourage on-request distribution but no enforceable countywide rule exists.
View full Skokie rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Chicago | Skokie |
|---|---|---|
| City code | MCC chapter 7-38 | - |
| Default | Straws on request only | - |
| Self-service stations | Prohibited | - |
| Disability access | Accommodation required | - |
| State law | - | No straws-on-request mandate |
| County rule | - | None |
| Forest Preserve | - | Event-specific limits |
| ADA access | - | Always preserved |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Chicago FAQ
Can a Chicago coffee shop set out a self-serve straw caddy?
No. MCC chapter 7-38 bars self-service plastic straw stations. Staff must hand a straw individually to customers who request one, and pre-stocked caddies are not allowed.
Are paper or compostable straws restricted too?
Non-plastic straws may be offered, but the on-request default applies broadly. Many Chicago restaurants voluntarily limit even paper straws to requests to reduce overall single-use waste.
Skokie FAQ
Can restaurants give me a plastic straw automatically?
Yes. Cook County and Illinois have no on-request rule. Restaurants may offer plastic straws by default unless a specific suburb has passed its own ordinance.
What about paper or compostable straws?
Restaurants may use any straw type they choose. There is no Cook County preference or mandate; decisions are left to individual businesses and any home-rule municipal rules.
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