Alabama Code Section 22-22B-1, enacted in 2019, prohibits Birmingham and every other Alabama municipality from regulating, taxing, or banning single-use plastic bags or other auxiliary containers used by retail and food establishments.
AL Code 22-22B-1 broadly preempts local government regulation of auxiliary containers, defined to include plastic and paper bags, cups, bottles, packages, and similar items. The statute prevents Birmingham from adopting bag bans, fees, or recycled-content mandates. Several Alabama cities considered bag fees before 2019; the legislature passed the preemption in response. Retailers are free to charge or eliminate bag fees on their own. State environmental and litter laws still apply, and Birmingham can address bag litter through its general anti-litter ordinances under Title 10. Federal action would be required for any bag-fee change.
There are no local plastic-bag fines for retailers or shoppers in Birmingham. Littering plastic bags remains punishable under city Title 10 anti-litter rules and state litter statutes regardless of bag type.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Birmingham, AL
Birmingham City Code section 11-8-23(16) prohibits creating excessive noise within 500 feet of any school, church, court or institution of learning in use, o...
Birmingham, AL
Birmingham City Code section 11-8-23(7) bars using drums, horns, loudspeakers, amplifiers or public-address systems for commercial advertising when the sound...
Birmingham, AL
Birmingham City Code section 11-8-23 bars sounding a vehicle horn or signal device for more than 30 seconds except as a danger warning, requires effective mu...
Birmingham, AL
Birmingham's noise ordinance expressly exempts noise from the operation of the Birmingham International Airport (City Code sec. 11-8-25(3)). In-flight aircra...
Birmingham, AL
Birmingham City Code section 11-8-23(8) makes amplified sound, stereos, TVs and musical instruments a nuisance when plainly audible 50 feet from a building o...
Birmingham, AL
Birmingham requires off-street handicapped parking spaces under its 2024 Off-Street Parking ordinance, provided in accordance with the adopted International ...
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