Dallas cannot ban or fee disposable plastic bags. Texas Health & Safety Code preempts local container regulations, and the Texas Supreme Court struck down city bag ordinances in the 2018 Laredo Merchants decision.
Dallas adopted a five-cent bag fee in 2014, but repealed it in 2015 amid legal challenges. After the Texas Supreme Court ruled in City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Association (2018) that the Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act preempts municipal container bans, no Texas city may regulate disposable bags as solid-waste containers. Retailers across Dallas freely distribute single-use plastic carryout bags. Voluntary reusable-bag programs and store-led recycling exist, but no fee, ban, or thickness mandate applies. Residents seeking change must lobby the Texas Legislature, not City Hall.
No violations exist for distributing or using plastic bags in Dallas. Any city ordinance attempting to ban or charge fees for disposable bags would be void under Texas state preemption.
Dallas, TX
Dallas does not regulate plastic straws or stirrers. Texas state law preempts city container regulations, and restaurants may distribute single-use plastic s...
Dallas, TX
Dallas has no ordinance restricting expanded polystyrene foam cups, plates, or takeout containers. Texas state law preempts local container bans, so restaura...
Dallas, TX
Dallas City Code Chapter 18 mandates curbside recycling for single-family residents using blue rollcarts. Sec. 18-5.1 requires multifamily sites with 8 or mo...
See how Dallas's plastic bag rules rules stack up against other locations.
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