Massachusetts has no statewide plastic bag ban or preemption, allowing over 160 cities and towns to enact their own single-use plastic bag prohibitions under home-rule authority.
Unlike many states, Massachusetts has not preempted local plastic bag regulation, and the legislature has not enacted a statewide ban. As a result, more than 160 municipalities including Boston, Cambridge, Brookline, and Somerville have adopted local ordinances banning thin-film plastic checkout bags or imposing fees on paper alternatives. These local rules vary in coverage, exemptions, and penalty structures. Statewide bills have been introduced repeatedly under MGL Chapter 21H but have not passed. Retailers operating across multiple municipalities must track local requirements carefully.
Local ordinances typically impose fines from $50 to $300 per violation, with escalating penalties for repeat offenders set by individual city or town bylaws.
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro regulates construction noise under its general noise ordinance and zoning provisions. Any use that is significantly offensive or detrimental to sur...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro addresses nuisance dogs under its animal control ordinance and state law MGL Ch. 140. Dogs that habitually bark or cause disturbances may result in...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro adopted a noise ordinance giving police the ability to issue citations and fines for excessive noise. Noise plainly audible at 200 feet may trigger...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro regulates vehicle parking through Chapter 10 of the Ordinances and the zoning code. Oversized vehicles must comply with general street parking rule...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro regulates commercial vehicle parking through its traffic ordinances and zoning code. Service zone loading is limited to 15 minutes (30 minutes whil...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro enforces parking regulations under Chapter 10 of the City Ordinances. During snow emergencies per Ordinance 10-5.1(A), parking is prohibited on bot...
See how Attleboro's plastic bag rules rules stack up against other locations.
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