Washington banned expanded polystyrene foam food service containers, coolers, and packing peanuts under RCW 70A.245. Phased restrictions began in 2023 and apply throughout King County. Compostable and recyclable alternatives are required for foodware.
RCW 70A.245 bans the sale and distribution of expanded polystyrene foam food service products, packing peanuts, and recreational coolers in three phases. Foam food containers, plates, cups, clamshells, and meat trays were prohibited starting June 1, 2024 for many items, with packing peanuts banned earlier. King County's Solid Waste Division provides outreach and the WA Department of Ecology enforces. Local cities including Seattle and Issaquah retain stricter foodware requirements such as compostable serviceware mandates that operate alongside the state ban.
Distributing banned foam foodware can result in Department of Ecology warnings, civil penalties, and potential referral to local code enforcement under city foodware ordinances that overlap.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Kent, WA
Kent decibel limits follow WAC 173-60 and KCC 8.05 using EDNA zones. Residential receiving limit is 55 dBA day and 45 dBA night. Commercial sources are cappe...
Kent, WA
Kent industrial sources are capped at 70 dBA day and 65 dBA night at another industrial property, but only 60 dBA day and 50 dBA night when received at a res...
Kent, WA
Commercial trucks over 10,000 pounds GVWR generally cannot park on Kent residential streets except for active loading. Warehouse districts and truck routes h...
Kent, WA
Kent follows Washington State Building Code EV-ready requirements for new multifamily and commercial buildings. Public chargers exist at Kent Station and sev...
Kent, WA
Kent driveway aprons require Public Works approval under KCC Title 6. New or widened driveways need a right-of-way construction permit, and vehicles must not...
Kent, WA
Kent has no city requirement to split shared fence costs with a neighbor. Washington common law controls boundary fences. Survey the property line before bui...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in King County.
See how Kent'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 If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.