Single-Use Items in Dallas County, TX (2026)

3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Dallas County, Texas.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Dallas County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Plastic Bag Rules

The Texas Supreme Court ruling in City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Association (2018) invalidated municipal plastic-bag bans under Health and Safety Code section 361.0961. Dallas County never enacted a bag ordinance and is preempted from doing so. Retailers freely use plastic and paper bags.

Texas Supreme Court Laredo case bars plastic-bag bans

Few Restrictions

Tex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 361.0961(a) — State Preemption of Local Bag Bans

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...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Polystyrene Foam Rules

Texas Health and Safety Code section 361.0961 preempts cities and counties from regulating containers and packages, which the Texas Supreme Court Laredo case extends to polystyrene foam. Dallas County cannot ban Styrofoam takeout containers. Restaurants and grocers freely use polystyrene packaging.

Texas preempts polystyrene foam container bans

Few Restrictions

Tex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 361.0961(a) — Restrictions on Local Container/Package Regulation

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...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Plastic Straw Rules

Texas Health and Safety Code section 361.0961 and the 2018 Laredo Supreme Court decision preempt city and county regulation of single-use packaging, which restaurant lawyers extend to plastic straws. Dallas County has no straw ordinance, and state-level upon-request rules do not apply.

Plastic straws unregulated in Dallas County

Few Restrictions

Tex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 361.0961(a) — State Preemption of Container/Package Regulation

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 use...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Single-Use Items by City in Dallas County

1 cities in Dallas County have their own single-use items rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

DallasPop. 1,304,379

2 verified rules • Polystyrene Foam Rules, Plastic Straw Rules

All Dallas County ordinances

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