Stockton retailers follow California's statewide single-use plastic carryout bag ban under SB 270. Grocery stores, pharmacies, and large retailers must charge at least 10 cents for any reusable or recycled paper bag provided at checkout.
California's SB 270, ratified by voters as Proposition 67 in 2016, bans single-use plastic carryout bags at grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies, and liquor stores statewide. Stockton retailers must instead provide reusable bags meeting state durability standards or recycled-content paper bags, and must charge a minimum 10-cent pass-through fee per bag. The fee is retained by the retailer to offset bag costs. Customers using SNAP/CalFresh benefits are exempt from the fee. Restaurants and small retailers outside the covered categories are not bound by SB 270, but many comply voluntarily. SB 1053, signed in 2024, will tighten the rules further by phasing out current paper-bag exemptions in 2026.
Distributing banned thin-film single-use plastic bags, failing to charge the 10-cent fee, or claiming non-compliant bags as reusable can trigger civil penalties under state law.
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See how Stockton's plastic bag rules rules stack up against other locations.
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