After the Texas Supreme Court ruling in City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Association (2018), Texas cities may not ban or charge fees on plastic checkout bags. Lubbock has no bag ordinance and grocers freely distribute single-use bags.
The 2018 Texas Supreme Court decision in Laredo Merchants struck down municipal plastic bag bans as preempted by Texas Health and Safety Code §361.0961, which forbids local rules adopted to prohibit or restrict, for solid waste management purposes, the sale or use of a container or package. The ruling invalidated bag ordinances in Austin, Brownsville, Fort Stockton, and Laredo. Lubbock never adopted a bag ban and now legally cannot. United Supermarkets, HEB, Market Street, and Walmart locations on Loop 289 distribute thin film polyethylene checkout bags without fee. Voluntary store-led recycling bins remain available.
There is no city bag offense. Litter from improperly disposed bags is enforced under general illegal-dumping and litter ordinances, not under any container fee scheme.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Lubbock, TX
The City of Lubbock does not regulate yard ornaments on private property. Statuary, religious displays, and decorative landscape elements are generally allow...
Lubbock, TX
Lubbock has no city ordinance setting size, height, or hours limits for inflatable holiday displays on private residential property. Wind is the primary prac...
Lubbock, TX
The City of Lubbock does not impose specific install-by or take-down-by dates for residential holiday lights. The general nuisance and right-of-way provision...
Lubbock, TX
Built-in outdoor kitchens in Lubbock require permits from the City of Lubbock Building Inspection Department for gas line installation, electrical work, plum...
Lubbock, TX
Lubbock does not have a smoker-specific ordinance for single-family residential use, but backyard smokers fall under the general nuisance provisions of the C...
Lubbock, TX
Lubbock adopts the International Fire Code through the City of Lubbock Code of Ordinances, with Lubbock Fire Rescue as enforcement authority. IFC Section 308...
See how Lubbock's plastic bag rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.