Indianapolis cannot enforce a plastic bag ban or fee. Indiana Code § 36-1-3-8.6 prohibits any local government from imposing any 'prohibition, restriction, fee, or tax with respect to auxiliary containers.' Governor Pence signed the preemption (HB 1053) into law in March 2016, blocking an Indianapolis-Marion County proposal.
Indiana Code § 36-1-3-8.6, enacted by HB 1053 on March 23, 2016, provides that 'a unit may not impose, adopt, or enforce an ordinance, regulation, requirement, or resolution to impose a prohibition, restriction, fee, or tax with respect to auxiliary containers.' 'Auxiliary container' is defined to include 'a bag, box, cup, bottle, or similar container' that is reusable or disposable, made of cloth, paper, plastic, extruded polystyrene, or similar material, and designed for one-time use or for transporting merchandise or food from food or retail facilities. The bill was a direct response to a January 2016 Indianapolis City-County Council proposal for a 10-cent bag fee. After § 36-1-3-8.6, the proposal was withdrawn. The statute exempts curbside recycling programs and designated residential or commercial recycling locations, preserving Indianapolis's curbside service. Today Indianapolis Department of Public Works operates the Curbside Recycling Subscription Program (no plastic bags), the Indy Mayor's Office of Sustainability, and partners with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful on cleanup events. Indianapolis's Thrive Indianapolis Sustainability Plan targets voluntary diversion only.
Indianapolis cannot cite retailers or shoppers for bag use. Bag-related litter is enforced under Marion County Code § 575 (Solid Waste) and I.C. § 35-45-3-2 (criminal littering). Putting plastic bags in the recycling subscription cart is contamination, handled through education rather than fines.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis Revised Code section 391-302(c)(3) prohibits yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling, or singing in any public street or place that makes unreason...
Indianapolis, IN
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Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis uses a plainly-audible standard combined with a 115 dB amplifier cap under Rev. Code Ch. 391, Article III rather than zone-based dBA limits.
Indianapolis, IN
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Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis Revised Code section 391-302(c)(2) prohibits radios, loudspeakers, sound amplifiers, and musical instruments that make unreasonable noise, and t...
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis has no blanket overnight street-parking ban for ordinary passenger vehicles, but Code Sec. 621-117 caps parking on any street at six hours witho...
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