Chicago does NOT ban plastic carryout bags. Instead, since February 1, 2017, the city imposes a 7-cent checkout bag tax on every paper or plastic bag provided by retailers. Five cents goes to the city, 2 cents stays with the retailer. The earlier 2015 outright thin-plastic ban was repealed because it failed (retailers switched to thicker plastic).
Chicago first banned thin-film plastic checkout bags at large stores in August 2015, but the ordinance backfired — many retailers simply switched to slightly thicker plastic bags that technically qualified as "reusable" under the ordinance, increasing rather than decreasing plastic use. The City Council repealed the ban and replaced it with a 7-cent checkout bag tax on both paper and plastic bags, effective February 1, 2017 (Municipal Code §3-50). Retailers collect the tax at checkout: 5 cents is remitted to the City Finance Department; retailers keep 2 cents to offset administration. The tax applies whether the bag is paper or plastic — Chicago is unusual in NOT having an outright ban as of 2026. Cook County briefly considered a ban but did not adopt one.
Retailers who fail to collect or remit the 7-cent tax face penalties under Chicago Municipal Code Chapter 3-4 — interest, late fees, and fines up to $1,000 per day per violation. The Department of Finance audits compliance.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Chicago, IL
Chicago Building Code Chapter 13-196 requires approved smoke alarms in every residential unit: at least one on each story (including basement), within 15 fee...
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Human Rights Ordinance MCC 6-10 and the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance prohibit landlords from refusing applicants because their rent comes f...
Chicago, IL
Chicago requires a Mobile Food License ($700 for Preparer, $350 for Servers/two-year) from the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP)....
Chicago, IL
Chicago does not require a permit for residential garage sales but limits each property to two sales per calendar year under MCC 4-244, each no longer than t...
Chicago, IL
Chicago regulates political signs under content-neutral temporary sign rules in MCC §13-20-560. Residential properties may display non-illuminated temporary ...
Chicago, IL
Chicago Park District Code Section 7.E prohibits operation of any motorized model aircraft, including drones, in all 600+ parks and beaches under Park Distri...
See how Chicago'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.