Charleston has no plastic bag ban, and West Virginia law under W. Va. Code 22-15-3 partially limits the ability of municipalities to enact bag fees or bans on auxiliary containers, leaving the city largely without authority.
West Virginia does not authorize broad municipal authority to ban single-use plastic bags. W. Va. Code Chapter 22, Article 15 (solid waste management) and related provisions limit local container regulation, though the preemption is partial rather than absolute. Charleston has not adopted a bag ban or bag fee, and grocers, restaurants, and retailers freely distribute single-use plastic and paper bags. Consumers wanting to reduce plastic use must rely on voluntary participation. Statewide recycling drop-off programs accept clean plastic film at certain participating retailers, though curbside recycling typically excludes plastic bags.
No local bag ordinance applies. Retailers face no city penalties for distributing single-use bags, and no consumer fee is imposed at point of sale.
Charleston, WV
West Virginia Senate Bill 167, enacted in 2017, prohibits sanctuary policies. Charleston cannot adopt rules barring police cooperation with federal immigrati...
Charleston, WV
Charleston cannot set its own minimum wage above the West Virginia rate of 8.75 dollars per hour set by W. Va. Code Section 21-5C-2. State law preempts local...
Charleston, WV
Charleston levies a business and occupation gross receipts tax under Chapter 10 of the City Code, with rates that vary by business classification such as ret...
Charleston, WV
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Charleston, WV
Charleston hotel guests pay a 6 percent city hotel occupancy tax under W. Va. Code Chapter 7 plus a 6 percent state consumer sales tax, totaling roughly 12 p...
Charleston, WV
Charleston enforces loud party rules through the city noise ordinance and disorderly conduct provisions in Chapter 24, with stronger response near East End r...
See how Charleston's plastic bag rules rules stack up against other locations.
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