Santa Clara County Ordinance NS-1100, adopted in 2008 as the first county-level bag ban in the nation, prohibits single-use plastic carryout bags in unincorporated areas and requires a paper-bag charge. California SB-270 and AB-1162 (2024) now mirror the rule statewide.
Santa Clara County Ordinance NS-1100, codified in Division B33 of the County Ordinance Code, was the first county-level ban on single-use plastic carryout bags in the United States when adopted in 2008. It bars supermarkets, pharmacies, convenience stores, and other retailers in unincorporated areas from distributing single-use plastic carryout bags. Stores must sell paper bags with at least forty percent post-consumer content or reusable bags meeting state durability standards, charging a per-bag fee retained by the store. CalFresh and WIC customers are exempt from the charge. The county ordinance directly influenced California SB-270 (Public Resources Code section 42281). AB-1162 (2024) phases out remaining thicker reusable plastic bags by 2026 statewide.
Distributing banned plastic bags or failing to charge for paper bags violates SCC Ord. NS-1100 and PRC section 42281, with administrative fines starting around one hundred dollars per day after a written warning.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Sunnyvale, CA
Sunnyvale permits construction noise Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 6 PM and Saturday 8 AM to 5 PM. No construction on Sundays or major holidays without ...
Sunnyvale, CA
Sunnyvale was one of the earliest California cities to ban gas-powered leaf blowers, ahead of statewide AB 1346. Only electric or battery blowers are allowed...
Sunnyvale, CA
Aircraft noise from Moffett Federal Airfield, NASA Ames, and San Jose International is preempted by federal FAA rules. Sunnyvale cannot regulate overflight n...
Sunnyvale, CA
Street parking in Sunnyvale is governed by SMC Title 10 and California Vehicle Code. The 72-hour rule (CVC 22651(k)) applies, and posted permit zones restric...
Sunnyvale, CA
Sunnyvale driveway construction and use are governed by SMC Title 19 zoning and Title 16 encroachment rules. Blocking sidewalks or the public right-of-way is...
Sunnyvale, CA
RVs, trailers, and boats over 6 feet tall or 22 feet long are restricted on Sunnyvale streets under SMC Title 10. Short-term loading is allowed with limits; ...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Santa Clara County.
See how Sunnyvale'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.