Santa Clara County Ordinance NS-300.881 bars food vendors and county facilities in unincorporated areas from using expanded polystyrene foam containers, cups, plates, and trays. California AB-1276 (Public Resources Code section 42273) and SB-54 extend parallel statewide standards to all cities.
Santa Clara County Ordinance NS-300.881, codified in the County Ordinance Code, prohibits any food provider in unincorporated areas from selling, distributing, or using disposable expanded polystyrene foam food service ware, including cups, plates, bowls, clamshells, and trays. County departments and contractors are also barred from purchasing EPS. Restaurants must use compostable, recyclable, or reusable alternatives. The ordinance preceded the statewide framework. California AB-1276 (Public Resources Code section 42273) and SB-54 (PRC section 42041) now extend parallel rules statewide, so all fifteen Santa Clara County cities effectively bar EPS food ware as well. The County Department of Environmental Health enforces locally with warnings, then escalating administrative fines.
Distributing or using EPS foam food ware violates SCC Ord. NS-300.881 and triggers warnings, then administrative fines up to several hundred dollars per day from the County Department of Environmental Health.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto Airport (PAO) enforces a voluntary curfew and noise abatement procedures, with FAA preemption limiting local authority over flight operations.
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto prohibits amplified music audible beyond the property line during quiet hours and requires a special event permit for outdoor amplification in publ...
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto enforces strict decibel limits by zone under PAMC 9.10.040: 60 dBA day / 50 dBA night in residential, scaling up to 70 dBA in manufacturing zones.
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto permits construction Monday-Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 6pm, with no work allowed on Sundays or holidays under PAMC 9.10.060.
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto requires encroachment permits for new driveways, regulates curb cut dimensions, and prohibits blocking sidewalks or adjacent driveways under traffi...
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto restricts RV, trailer, and boat storage on public streets and requires screening for large recreational vehicles on residential property under zoni...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Santa Clara County.
See how Palo Alto'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.