Texas Health and Safety Code section 361.0961 preempts cities and counties from regulating containers and packages, which the Texas Supreme Court Laredo case extends to polystyrene foam. Harris County cannot ban Styrofoam takeout containers. Restaurants and grocers freely use polystyrene packaging countywide.
Texas Health and Safety Code 361.0961, the Solid Waste Disposal Act preemption clause interpreted by City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Association (2018), bars Texas cities and counties from regulating containers and packages, including polystyrene foam. Harris County has no expanded polystyrene ordinance and is preempted from enacting one. Restaurants, school cafeterias, and grocery stores across Harris County freely use foam clamshells, cups, and trays. The Texas Restaurant Association cites the ruling whenever local proposals surface. Federal FDA rules still govern food-contact safety of polystyrene. Harris County Public Health and Engineering pursue voluntary recycling and litter education only. Some commercial recyclers accept clean expanded polystyrene from restaurants and offices.
Harris County imposes no penalty on polystyrene foam containers because the county has no ordinance and is preempted from creating one. State litter laws under Health and Safety Code chapter 365 still apply to discarded foam packaging in unincorporated areas.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Deer Park, TX
Deer Park Code of Ordinances Chapter 74 (Offenses and Nuisances) prohibits unreasonably loud noise that disturbs the peace of others. The city enforces noise...
Deer Park, TX
Deer Park regulates construction noise through its general nuisance provisions in Chapter 74. While no specific construction hours ordinance exists, disrupti...
Deer Park, TX
Deer Park restricts parking of large commercial vehicles in residential districts. Vehicles exceeding one ton rated capacity or bearing commercial markings a...
Deer Park, TX
Deer Park regulates on-street parking through the Code of Ordinances and Texas Transportation Code. Vehicles must comply with posted restrictions, clearance ...
Deer Park, TX
Deer Park requires residential vehicles to be parked on improved surfaces such as concrete or asphalt. Parking on grass, dirt, or other unimproved surfaces i...
Deer Park, TX
Deer Park does not impose a blanket overnight street parking ban. Vehicles may remain on residential streets overnight provided they are registered, operable...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Harris County.
See how Deer Park's polystyrene foam rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.