Plastic straws are not banned outright in Washington but, under RCW 70A.245, food service businesses can only provide them when a customer specifically asks. Seattle has a stricter rule prohibiting plastic straws entirely except where required for accessibility.
The state on-request rule covers plastic straws alongside utensils, cup lids, condiment packets, and stirrers as of January 1, 2022. Within Seattle, a stricter foodware ordinance under SMC 21.36 prohibits plastic straws altogether, requiring compostable or paper alternatives, with a federal disability accommodation exception. King County cities outside Seattle generally follow the state baseline. Operators must train staff to ask before adding straws and ensure self-serve dispensers are not used for plastic straws under most local rules.
Failing to comply triggers state Department of Ecology penalties up to 250 dollars per day and, in Seattle, Public Utilities citations and possible escalation by Seattle Public Health partners.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Auburn, WA
Federal law preempts local aircraft noise. Auburn Municipal Airport follows FAA Part 150 and Sea-Tac overflights are under FAA and Port of Seattle. ACC 8.28 ...
Auburn, WA
Industrial sources into residential zones are capped at 60 dBA day and 50 dBA night under WAC 173-60 via ACC 8.28. The Boeing Auburn plant and Valley warehou...
Auburn, WA
Outdoor concerts and festivals must meet ACC 8.28 limits and often need a special event permit. Downtown Auburn and Les Gove Park events follow a written noi...
Auburn, WA
Auburn applies WAC 173-60 EDNA limits through ACC 8.28. Residential: 55 dBA day, 45 dBA night. Industrial receiving: 60 dBA day, 50 dBA night. Measured at th...
Auburn, WA
Auburn restricts RV, trailer, and boat parking on public streets to 72 hours and sets additional limits on driveway and front-yard storage of recreational ve...
Auburn, WA
Auburn does not impose a citywide overnight parking ban, but enforces the 72-hour rule, signed time-limited zones, and no-parking signs at parks, trailheads,...
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See how Auburn's plastic straw rules rules stack up against other locations.
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