Bexar County cannot ban plastic carryout bags. The Texas Supreme Court in City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Association struck down local bag bans as preempted by the Texas Health and Safety Code container provision.
Texas cities and counties have no authority to prohibit single-use plastic carryout bags. In 2018, the Texas Supreme Court ruled in City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Association that municipal bag ordinances are preempted by Texas Health and Safety Code Section 361.0961, which bars local rules assessing fees on or prohibiting containers used for solid waste management purposes. Bexar County therefore does not ban or fee plastic bags at retail. Voluntary store-level programs, reusable bag promotions, and recycling drop-offs continue. Some H-E-B and other Bexar County retailers offer in-store film recycling. Any future Bexar County bag rule would face the same preemption barrier absent a legislative change.
There are no county penalties for plastic bag use because local bans are preempted. Retailers face no county fee or surcharge requirement for distributing plastic carryout bags.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Converse, TX
Amplified music in Converse must not be audible at 30 feet from the property line during quiet hours and must not disturb neighbors at any time. Outdoor spea...
Converse, TX
Converse enforces nighttime quiet hours from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM weekdays and 11:00 PM to 8:00 AM weekends under the city noise ordinance and Texas Penal Cod...
Converse, TX
Outdoor music at Converse restaurants, event venues, and private residences must end by quiet-hour start and not be audible at 30 feet. Special event permits...
Converse, TX
Converse does not impose specific leaf blower bans, but gas-powered blowers must comply with general construction hours of 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and not produce...
Converse, TX
Converse driveways require a permit from Public Works when connecting to a public street. Surfaces must be paved, widths typically 9-24 ft, and front-yard pa...
Converse, TX
Converse restricts heavy commercial vehicles from parking overnight in residential zones. Standard work pickups and vans are allowed, but semi-trucks, dump t...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Bexar County.
See how Converse's plastic bag rules rules stack up against other locations.
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