Under RCW 70A.245, Tacoma food-service businesses may provide single-use utensils, straws, condiment packets, cup lids, and similar accessories only when the customer requests them or affirmatively chooses them through self-service.
Washington 2021 single-use foodware law requires food-service businesses to make accessories like plastic utensils, condiment packets, beverage straws, cup spill plugs, and lids available only by customer request or unbundled self-service. Drive-through and third-party delivery orders must include only the accessories the customer specifically requests. The Department of Ecology administers the rule, and Tacoma operators should train staff to ask before adding accessories to orders. Accessibility accommodations remain available, including flexible plastic straws upon request from people with disabilities. The rule applies to dine-in, takeout, drive-through, and delivery orders.
Automatically including accessories without a request can lead to Ecology warning letters and escalating civil penalties; repeat violators face fines and corrective-action plans.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Tacoma, WA
Tacoma allows residential lawn ornaments and yard art without permits provided they do not exceed the 15-foot accessory-structure height limit in TMC 13.06 a...
Tacoma, WA
Tacoma does not regulate residential inflatable holiday decorations by size or type. The Noise Code (TMC 8.122) applies to continuously running blower motors...
Tacoma, WA
Tacoma has no ordinance restricting when residents may put up or take down holiday lights. The general Noise Ordinance at TMC 8.122 applies to any amplified ...
Tacoma, WA
Built-in outdoor kitchens in Tacoma require building permits from Planning and Development Services (PDS) when they include new electrical, plumbing, gas pip...
Tacoma, WA
Backyard wood and pellet smokers in Tacoma single-family yards are permitted but subject to Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) Regulation I, Section 9.11, ...
Tacoma, WA
Tacoma adopts the International Fire Code through TMC Title 3 (Fire Prevention) as Tacoma Fire Code. IFC Section 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking devices...
See how Tacoma's utensils-on-request rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.