Columbus Single-Use Items: Plastic Bag Rules Rules (2026)

Ohio enacted House Bill 242 in late 2020 codified at Ohio Revised Code Section 3737.83, preempting Ohio cities and counties from regulating auxiliary containers including plastic bags, cups, packaging, and similar single-use items. The preemption blocked Cuyahoga County's bag fee and prevented Columbus from advancing its proposed bag ordinance. The original statute included a sunset that expired in early 2022, briefly opening a window for local regulation, but subsequent legislative actions and continued state-level efforts have effectively preserved preemption pressure. Columbus has not enacted a plastic bag ban or fee, instead pursuing voluntary reduction through the Columbus Climate Action Plan and Refuse Collection programs. Future municipal regulation likely requires Ohio General Assembly action to permanently lift preemption.