Atlanta cannot ban or tax plastic carryout bags. Georgia HB 757 (2018), codified at OCGA Title 32 Chapter 2 Section 405, preempts auxiliary container regulation by local governments statewide.
Georgia HB 757, signed in 2018 and codified at OCGA Title 32 Chapter 2 Section 405, preempts local governments from regulating auxiliary containers, including plastic carryout bags, paper bags, polystyrene foodware, cups, and bottles. This means Atlanta cannot adopt a plastic bag ban, mandatory paper-bag fee, or BYO-bag mandate, even on city-owned property under most readings of the statute. The city has instead pursued voluntary reuse campaigns, ATL2050 sustainability commitments, and supplier-side procurement preferences that do not regulate retail customer transactions.
No city-level penalties exist because Atlanta cannot enact a ban. Any future Atlanta ordinance attempting to ban or fee plastic bags would be unenforceable and challengeable under OCGA Title 32 Chapter 2 Section 405.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta's zoning and property maintenance codes do not restrict residential lawn ornaments, statuary, or religious displays at single-family homes. Political...
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta has no specific City ordinance regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. The principal restrictions come from HOA and condo covenants under...
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta has no citywide ordinance restricting residential holiday lights at single-family homes. Restrictions arise principally from Historic Preservation ov...
Atlanta, GA
Outdoor kitchens in Atlanta require separate trade permits from the Office of Buildings: building permit for structural elements, mechanical permit for gas l...
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta has no specific ordinance regulating residential offset smokers, pellet grills, or wood-fired pizza ovens at single-family homes. Multi-unit balcony ...
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta enforces the Georgia State Minimum Fire Code, which adopts International Fire Code Section 308.1.4: open-flame cooking and LP-gas grills are prohibit...
See how Atlanta's plastic bag rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.