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.
In 2018 the Texas Supreme Court held in City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Association, 550 S.W.3d 586, that Texas Health and Safety Code 361.0961 preempts cities and counties from banning or charging fees on single-use plastic or paper bags. The court found bag-ban ordinances conflict with the Solid Waste Disposal Act prohibition on local rules regulating containers and packages. After Laredo, Austin, Fort Worth, and dozens of other Texas jurisdictions repealed their bag rules. Harris County never adopted a bag ordinance. Retailers across Harris County, including Walmart, Kroger, and HEB, distribute plastic bags freely. Voluntary recycling and reusable-bag promotions continue, and HCPH supports waste-reduction education without regulation.
No local violation exists because Harris County has no plastic-bag rule and is preempted from creating one. Retailers face zero county penalty for plastic-bag use; littering offenses under state Health and Safety Code 365.012 still apply to discarded bags.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Bellaire, TX
Bellaire enforces detailed quiet hours under its noise ordinance adopted in 2023. Quiet hours run Sunday through Thursday from 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM (11:00 PM t...
Bellaire, TX
Bellaire prohibits all construction activity during quiet hours regardless of noise level. Construction is permitted only during non-quiet hours: 7:00 AM to ...
Bellaire, TX
Bellaire's noise ordinance prohibits all lawn care activities, including leaf blower use, during quiet hours regardless of noise level. During non-quiet hour...
Bellaire, TX
Bellaire Code Chapter 6 (Animals and Fowl) prohibits keeping dogs that create excessive noise disturbing neighbors. Barking dog complaints are handled by Bel...
Bellaire, TX
Bellaire's noise ordinance sets specific decibel limits for amplified music: 60 dB maximum in residential zones during quiet hours and 75 dB during non-quiet...
Bellaire, TX
Bellaire regulates street parking through Chapter 30 (Traffic and Vehicles) with restrictions on specific streets, time limits, and no-parking zones. The cit...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Harris County.
See how Bellaire's plastic bag rules rules stack up against other locations.
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