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

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

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Harris 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. Harris 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

Texas Health & Safety Code Sec. 361.0961 (Local Regulation of Containers Prohibited)

Sec. 361.0961. RESTRICTIONS ON AUTHORITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR OTHER POL...GoReset Texas Constitution and Statutes chevron_right Texas Constitution chevron_right Agriculture Code chevron_right Alcoholic Beverage Code chevron_right Auxiliary Water Laws chevron_right Business & Commerce Code chevron_right Business Organizations Code chevron_right Civil Practice and Remedies Code chevron_right Co...

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. Harris County cannot ban Styrofoam takeout containers. Restaurants and grocers freely use polystyrene packaging countywide.

Texas preempts polystyrene foam container bans

Few Restrictions

Texas Health & Safety Code Sec. 361.0961 (Local Regulation of Containers Prohibited)

Sec. 361.0961. RESTRICTIONS ON AUTHORITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR OTHER POL...GoReset Texas Constitution and Statutes chevron_right Texas Constitution chevron_right Agriculture Code chevron_right Alcoholic Beverage Code chevron_right Auxiliary Water Laws chevron_right Business & Commerce Code chevron_right Business Organizations Code chevron_right Civil Practice and Remedies Code chevron_right Co...

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. Harris County has no straw ordinance, and no upon-request rule applies countywide.

Plastic straws unregulated in Harris County

Few Restrictions

Texas Health & Safety Code Sec. 361.0961 (Local Regulation of Containers Prohibited)

Sec. 361.0961. RESTRICTIONS ON AUTHORITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR OTHER POL...GoReset Texas Constitution and Statutes chevron_right Texas Constitution chevron_right Agriculture Code chevron_right Alcoholic Beverage Code chevron_right Auxiliary Water Laws chevron_right Business & Commerce Code chevron_right Business Organizations Code chevron_right Civil Practice and Remedies Code chevron_right Co...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Single-Use Items by City in Harris County

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

HoustonPop. 2,304,580

2 verified rules • Plastic Bag Rules, Polystyrene Foam Rules

All Harris County ordinances

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