Single-Use Items in Texas (2026)
38 rules on the books across Texas, 13 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Plastic Bag Rules
Whether plastic carryout bags are banned, taxed, or exempt from local regulation under state preemption.
Texas: statewide
StatewideFew RestrictionsThe Texas Supreme Court in City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Association (2018) held that Health and Safety Code…
Read full rule →Arlington
Few RestrictionsAfter the 2018 Texas Supreme Court ruling in Laredo Merchants Association v. Laredo, Arlington cannot ban or tax…
Read full rule →Austin
Few RestrictionsAustin's 2013 single-use carryout bag ban was struck down by the Texas Supreme Court on June 22, 2018 in Laster v…
Read full rule →Bexar County
Few RestrictionsBexar County cannot ban plastic carryout bags. The Texas Supreme Court in City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants…
Read full rule →Corpus Christi
Few RestrictionsCorpus Christi cannot ban or restrict single-use plastic bags. The Texas Supreme Court held in City of Laredo v. Laredo…
Read full rule →Dallas County
Few RestrictionsThe Texas Supreme Court ruling in City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Association (2018) invalidated municipal…
Read full rule →Frisco
Few RestrictionsAfter the 2018 Texas Supreme Court ruling in City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Association, Texas cities including…
Read full rule →Harris County
Few RestrictionsThe Texas Supreme Court ruling in City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Association (2018) invalidated municipal…
Read full rule →Houston
Few RestrictionsHouston cannot enforce a plastic bag ban or fee. Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.0961 preempts local ordinances that…
Read full rule →Lubbock
Few RestrictionsAfter the Texas Supreme Court ruling in City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Association (2018), Texas cities may not ban…
Read full rule →Travis County
Few RestrictionsTravis County cannot ban plastic carryout bags after the 2018 Texas Supreme Court decision in Laredo Merchants v. City…
Read full rule →Polystyrene Foam Rules
State rules on expanded polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) cups, takeout containers, and packaging, including statewide bans and preemption of local bans.
Arlington
Few RestrictionsThe same Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act analysis that preempted plastic bag bans also blocks Arlington from banning…
Read full rule →Austin
Few RestrictionsTexas Health and Safety Code Section 361.0961 preempts municipal regulation of foam food containers as solid waste…
Read full rule →Bexar County
Few RestrictionsBexar County does not restrict expanded polystyrene foam containers. Texas container preemption under TX HSC Section…
Read full rule →Corpus Christi
Few RestrictionsCorpus Christi has no polystyrene foam container ordinance. The same Texas Health and Safety Code §361.0961 that…
Read full rule →Dallas
Few RestrictionsDallas has no ordinance restricting expanded polystyrene foam cups, plates, or takeout containers. Texas state law…
Read full rule →Dallas County
Few RestrictionsTexas Health and Safety Code section 361.0961 preempts cities and counties from regulating containers and packages…
Read full rule →Fort Worth
Few RestrictionsTexas Health and Safety Code Section 361.0961 preempts municipal regulation of foam food containers as solid waste…
Read full rule →Frisco
Few RestrictionsTexas state law preempts local bans on expanded polystyrene foam containers under the same Solid Waste Disposal Act…
Read full rule →Harris County
Few RestrictionsTexas Health and Safety Code section 361.0961 preempts cities and counties from regulating containers and packages…
Read full rule →Houston
Few RestrictionsTexas Health and Safety Code Section 361.0961 preempts municipal regulation of foam food containers as solid waste…
Read full rule →Lubbock
Few RestrictionsLubbock does not restrict expanded polystyrene foam takeout containers, cups, or coolers. The same Laredo Merchants…
Read full rule →San Antonio
Few RestrictionsSan Antonio has no ordinance restricting expanded polystyrene foam cups, plates, or takeout containers. Texas state law…
Read full rule →Travis County
Few RestrictionsTravis County cannot ban polystyrene foam containers because the same TX HSC 361.0961 preemption confirmed by Laredo…
Read full rule →Plastic Straw Rules
State rules on plastic straws, including on-request-only mandates, full bans, and states that preempt local straw ordinances.
Arlington
Few RestrictionsTexas preemption of local container regulations and the absence of state straw rules mean Arlington restaurants may…
Read full rule →Austin
Few RestrictionsTexas state law preempts local regulation of single-use food service items including plastic straws. Austin has no…
Read full rule →Bexar County
Few RestrictionsBexar County does not require restaurants to switch from plastic straws or to provide them only on request. Texas…
Read full rule →Corpus Christi
Few RestrictionsCorpus Christi has not adopted a plastic-straw ordinance and would face the same state preemption issues that struck…
Read full rule →Dallas
Few RestrictionsDallas does not regulate plastic straws or stirrers. Texas state law preempts city container regulations, and…
Read full rule →Dallas County
Few RestrictionsTexas Health and Safety Code section 361.0961 and the 2018 Laredo Supreme Court decision preempt city and county…
Read full rule →Fort Worth
Few RestrictionsTexas state law preempts local regulation of single-use food service items including plastic straws. Fort Worth has no…
Read full rule →Frisco
Few RestrictionsFrisco has no plastic straw ordinance and is preempted by Texas state law from adopting one, so restaurants can…
Read full rule →Harris County
Few RestrictionsTexas Health and Safety Code section 361.0961 and the 2018 Laredo Supreme Court decision preempt city and county…
Read full rule →Lubbock
Few RestrictionsLubbock has no straw-on-request rule and no plastic straw ban. Restaurants may freely distribute plastic straws at…
Read full rule →San Antonio
Few RestrictionsSan Antonio does not regulate plastic straws or stirrers. Texas state law preempts city container regulations, and…
Read full rule →Travis County
Few RestrictionsTravis County does not regulate plastic straws because TX HSC 361.0961 preempts local container restrictions…
Read full rule →Utensils-On-Request
Rules barring food vendors from automatically including plastic utensils, condiment packets, or napkins unless customers request them.
Takeout Containers
Rules requiring compostable, recyclable, or reusable takeout containers, including LA's polystyrene ban and Customers-Bring-Their-Own programs.