LA County Code Title 12.84 makes unincorporated areas a straws-on-request jurisdiction, and California AB-1884 (Public Resources Code section 42270) plus AB-1276 extend parallel rules statewide. Restaurants cannot auto-distribute single-use plastic straws; disability requests must be accommodated.
LA County Code Title 12, chapter 12.84 bars restaurants, fast-food outlets, coffee shops, food trucks, and beverage retailers in unincorporated LA County from placing plastic straws at self-service stations or handing them out automatically with drinks. Staff may provide a straw if a customer affirmatively asks, and compostable or paper alternatives are encouraged. Persons with disabilities must be accommodated upon request without burden. California AB-1884 (PRC section 42270) covers full-service dine-in restaurants statewide, and AB-1276 (PRC section 42273) extends straws-on-request rules to quick-service outlets across all 88 cities. The Department of Public Works enforces locally with warnings.
Auto-distributing plastic straws violates LACO Title 12.84 and PRC section 42270, triggering written warnings, then administrative fines starting around twenty-five dollars per violation up to several hundred dollars for repeats.
See how Downey's plastic straw rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.