The New York Bag Waste Reduction Law (Environmental Conservation Law §27-2801, enacted 2019, enforced March 2020) bans most single-use plastic carryout bags statewide. Counties and cities may impose a 5-cent paper bag fee. Reusable bags and certain product bags are exempt.
New York Environmental Conservation Law §27-2801 et seq. — the Bag Waste Reduction Law — bans the distribution of plastic carryout bags by any person required to collect state sales tax. The law was signed in April 2019 and took effect March 1, 2020 after court-imposed delays. Counties and cities may opt in to a 5-cent paper carryout bag fee under ECL §27-2805, with 40% supporting the Environmental Protection Fund and 60% supporting reusable bag distribution to low-income households. New York City, Suffolk County, Westchester, Tompkins, Albany, and Ulster have adopted the fee. Exemptions cover bags used to package bulk items, produce, raw meat/fish, prescriptions, newspapers, restaurant takeout food, and garment bags. Compostable bags do not qualify as substitutes.
Civil penalty up to $250 per violation for first offense, up to $500 for subsequent violations within 12 months under ECL §27-2807. DEC and authorized municipalities issue citations. Each day of non-compliance is a separate violation.
Erie County, NY
Erie County itself does not regulate parking on town/village streets, but the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation & Forestry enforces parking rules o...
Erie County, NY
Erie County has no breed-specific dog ban, and neither county nor any municipality within it may adopt one. New York Agriculture & Markets Law §107(5) expres...
Erie County, NY
Erie County does not adopt a single county-wide leash ordinance; dog control is set by each town or city under New York Agriculture & Markets Law Article 7. ...
Clarence, NY
Clarence Town Code prohibits keeping chickens in the Residential Single-Family (R-SF) zone unless the parcel is at least 5 acres or is located in the Agricul...
Erie County, NY
Erie County Local Law 2-2025, "The Sky Lantern Prohibition Act," bans the sale, use, release, and dispatch of sky lanterns county-wide. The law was adopted b...
Erie County, NY
Erie County has no separate county-level open-burning ordinance; outdoor burning across all of Erie County is governed by New York State regulation 6 NYCRR P...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Erie County.
See how Clarence's plastic bag rules rules stack up against other locations.
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