Many cities and counties are currently in the process of adopting plastic bag ban ordinances.  Click here to learn more about plastic industry intimidation efforts against ordinances.  Below are the jurisdictions that have adopted ordinances in the state. See the list of local bag ordinances across the nation here.

# of Adopted Ordinances: 54

# of CA Cities or Counties Covered by These Ordinances: 75

Alameda County and City, Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, and Union City

The Alameda County Waste Management Authority (StopWaste.org) adopted its ordinance banning plastic bags and placing a 10 cent price requirement on paper and reusable bags in January of 2012. It went into effect on January 1, 2013 in unincorporated Alameda County as well as its 14 incorporated cities.

Belmont

Belmont adopted the Reusable Bag Ordinance in January of 2013. All retail stores will be prohibited from using single-use plastic carryout bags and may sell paper or reusable bags for a small charge. Effective 4/22/13.

Brisbane

The City adopted the San Mateo County's Reusable Bag Ordinance on March 18, 2013. All retail stores will be prohibited from using single-use plastic carryout bags and may sell paper or reusable bags for a small charge. Effective 4/22/13.   

Burlingame

Burlingame adopted the San Mateo County's Reusable Bag Ordinance on March 18, 2013. All retail stores will be prohibited from using single-use plastic carryout bags and may sell paper or reusable bags for a small charge. Effective 4/22/13.   

Calabasas

The Calabasas City Council unanimously adopted a plastic bag ban with a minimum ten cent price requirement on paper bags in February 2011.

Capitola

In January 2013, the city adopted a plastic bag ban with a 25 cent charge on paper bags in all retail stores. Effective April 2013.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel adopted a plastic bag ban in all retail stores on July 3, 2012. It became operative February 3, 2013.

Carpinteria

Carpinteria adopted the first double bag ban in the state on March 12, 2012. Starting July 2012, large retailers as specified prohibited from distributing single-use paper and plastic bags. Starting April 2013, plastic bags  banned in all other retail stores.

Colma

Colma Town Council adopted a Reusable Bag Ordinance on January 9, 2013. All retail stores will be prohibited from using single-use plastic carryout bags and may sell paper or reusable bags for a small charge. Effective 4/22/13. 

Cupertino

Cupertino adopted a Reusable Bag Ordinance on March 5, 2013. All retail stores will be prohibited from using single-use plastic carryout bags and may sell paper or reusable bags for a small charge. Effective 10/1/13.  

Daly City

The City adopted the San Mateo County model ordinance (plastic bag ban, charge on paper or reusables) in January 2013. Operative 4/22/13.

Dana Point

The City of Dana Point adopted a ban on single-use plastic bags from all retail stores within city limits on March 6, 2012. Effective in larger stores April 1, 2013, and all other stores October 1, 2013.

East Palo Alto

On April 2, 2013, the City of East Palo Alto adopted the San Mateo County's Reusable Bag Ordinance (ban on plastic bags and charge on paper/reusable bags in all retail stores). Effective October 2, 2013.

Fairfax

The Fairfax City Council adopted its ban on plastic bags August 2007. After a legal challenge by the plastics industry, Fairfax voters overwhelmingly adopted a plastic bag ban by initiative in November 2008.

Fort Bragg

Fort Bragg banned plastic bags and required a 10 cent paper bag charge in all retail stores. The ordinance was adopted May 14, 2012. Effective in large stores December 10, 2012, expanding to all other stores December 2013.

Foster City

Foster City adopted a Reusable Bag Ordinance on January 7, 2013. All retail stores will be prohibited from using single-use plastic carryout bags and may sell paper or reusable bags for a small charge. Effective 4/22/13.

Glendale

The City of Glendale adopted a bag ordinance in January of 2013. Similar to LA County's ordinance, it bans plastic bags and places a 10 cent charge on paper bags. Effective in larger stores and farmer's markets starting 7/1/13 and expanded to other covered stores 1/1/14.

Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay adopted a Reusable Bag Ordinance on March 5, 2013. All retail stores will be prohibited from using single-use plastic carryout bags and may sell paper or reusable bags for a small charge. Effective 4/22/13. 

Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach adopted a plastic bag ban with a 10 cent charge per paper bag on April 1, 2013. Applies to all grocery, drug, and convenience stores starting November 1, 2013.

Laguna Beach

In February 2012, the Laguna Beach City Council unanimously adopted a plastic bag ban in all retail stores. Grocery stores, pharmacies, and convenience/liquor stores must include a 10 cent minimum price requirement on paper bags distributed. Effective 1/1/13.

Long Beach

On May 17, 2011, the City of Long Beach passed a bag ordinance with a 5-0 vote. It banned single-use plastic bags and placed a 10 cent minimum price requirement on paper bags. The ordinance was operative in larger stores starting August 2011, and expanded to others stores in 2012.

Los Altos

The City adopted the San Mateo County model ordinance (plastic bag ban, charge on paper or reusables) in March 2013. Operative 7/4/13.   

Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County adopted an ordinance banning single-use plastic bags and placing a 10 cent minimum price requirement on paper bags in November 2010. The ordinance became effective for large supermarkets and retailers in July 2011, and expanded to other applicable stores in January of 2012 througout unincorporated County areas.

Malibu

The Malibu City Council voted in May 2008 to ban plastic bags.

Manhattan Beach

The Manhattan Beach City council voted in July 2008 to ban plastic bags. The CA Supreme Court overturned a legal challenge to the ordinance in July 2011.

Marin County

Marin County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in favor of an ordinance restricting the free distribution of single-use bags in January 2011, effective January 2012. Unincorporated County areas only.

Mendocino County

The County Board of Supervisors adopted a plastic bag ban with a ten cent paper bag charge on June 12, 2012. Effective in large stores in January 2013, and expanding to all other retailers one year later. Unincorporated County areas only.

Menlo Park

Menlo Park adopted the Reusable Bag Ordinance (San Mateo County Ordinance) on January 22, 2013. All retail stores will be prohibited from using single-use plastic carryout bags and may sell paper or reusable bags for a small charge. Effective 4/22/13. 

Millbrae

On February 14, 2012, the Millbrae City Council adopted a plastic bag ban with a 10 cent requirement on paper bags. The ordinance went into effect on September 1, 2012 in all retail establishments, except for restaurants, non-profits, and dry-cleaners.

Monterey

The Monterey City Council unanimously passed an ordinance on December 6, 2011. The ordinance bans plastic bags and places an initial 10 cent minimum price requirement on paper bags for the first year (25 cents after).

Mountain View

In December 2012, the City of Mountain View adopted a Reusable Bag Ordinance (San Mateo County Ordinance). Ban on plastic bags and charge on paper/reusable bags in all retail stores. Effective 4/22/13. 

Ojai

Ojai adopted a plastic bag ban on April 10, 2012. Grocery stores may distribute paper bags with 10 cent price requirement. Effective July 1, 2012 in all retail stores.

Pacifica

In December 2012, the City of Pacifica adopted a Reusable Bag Ordinance (San Mateo County Ordinance). Ban on plastic bags and charge on paper/reusable bags in all retail stores. Effective 4/22/13.

Palo Alto

In 2013, the Palo Alto City Council adopted an expansion of a 2009 ordinance to include all stores and restaurants under its plastic bag ban. Paper and reusable bags would be available with a minimum charge. Previously, the ordinance only applied to plastic bags at large supermarkets.

Pasadena

In November of 2011, the Pasadena City Council unanimously adopted a plastic bag ban with a 10 cent minimum price requirement on paper bags. Effective July 1, 2012 for large stores and supermarkets and December 2012 for convenience stores.

Portola Valley

The Town adopted the San Mateo County model ordinance (plastic bag ban, charge on paper or reusables) in January 2013. Operative 4/22/13. 

Redwood City

The City adopted the San Mateo County model ordinance (plastic bag ban, charge on paper or reusables) in March 2013. Operative 10/1/13.  

San Bruno

The City adopted the San Mateo County model ordinance (plastic bag ban, charge on paper or reusables) in January 2013. Operative 4/22/13.  

San Carlos

San Carlos adopted the San Mateo County model ordinance (plastic bag ban, charge on paper or reusables) in March 2013. Operative 7/1/13.

San Francisco

San Francisco became the first city in the nation to adopt a ban on plastic shopping bags in April 2007. In February of 2012, the Board of Supervisors voted to expand the ordinance to more stores.

San Jose

San Jose City Council voted and adopted a ban on single use plastic carryout bags in January 2011. The ban will extend to all retailers in the city, exempting restaurants and non-profit reuse organizations. It is effective January 1, 2012. For the first two years, paper bags will be sold under this ordinance at 10 cents each; after two years the minimum price per paper bag is 25 cents each.

San Luis Obispo County and City, Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Grover Beach, Morro Bay, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach

The San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority adopted a plastic bag ban with a 10 cent minimum price requirement on paper bags in January of 2012. It went into effect on 10/1/12 in all seven incorporated cities as well as unincorporated areas of the county.

San Mateo City

The City adopted a Reusable Bag Ordinance on May 6, 2013. Effective June 6, 2013. Plastic bag ban with a 10 cent charge on paper and reusable bags (increasing to 25 cents on 1/1/2015).

San Mateo County

The Board of Supervisors adopted a Reusable Bag Ordinance on November 6, 2012. Effective 4/22/13 in unincorporated County areas. Plastic bag ban with a 10 cent charge on paper and reusable bags (increasing to 25 cents on 1/1/2015).

Santa Clara County

On April 26, 2011, the County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of a single-use bag ordinance. The ordinance bans single-use plastic bags and places a 15 cent minimum price requirement on single-use paper bags throughout unincorporated county areas. It became effective January 1, 2012.

Santa Cruz City

The City Council adopted a plastic bag ban and 10 cent paper bag charge on July 24. Effective in all retail stores starting April 2013.

Santa Cruz County

On September 13, 2011, the County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in favor of a single-use bag ordinance. It bans single-use plastic bags and places a 10 cent minimum price requirement on single-use paper bags throughout unincorporated county areas. Effective March 20, 2012. An expansion of the plastic bag ban to restaurants was adopted in October 2012 and went into effect April 22, 2013.

Santa Monica

The Santa Monica City Council unanimously voted for a ban on single-use plastic bags and a cost pass-through requirement per recyclable paper bag in January 2011. Visit their website for more information.

Solana Beach

On May 9, 2012, Solana Beach became the first city in San Diego County to adopt a plastic bag ban. Paper bags can be purchased for ten cents each under the ordinance.

South San Francisco

In December 2012, the City of South San Francisco adopted a Reusable Bag Ordinance (San Mateo County Ordinance). Ban on plastic bags and charge on paper/reusable bags in all retail stores. Effective 4/22/13. 

Sunnyvale

Sunnyvale passed a bag ordinance in December 2011. The ordinance bans single-use plastic bags and places a 10 cent minimum price requirement on paper bags which later increases to 25 cents. Starting June 20, 2012 it covers grocery and convenience stores and large retailers. Covers all retailers by March 2013.

Ukiah

City Council adopted an ordinance on May 2, 2012 banning plastic bags and placing a 10 cent charge on paper bags in all retail stores. The ban is operative starting in large stores within six months of adoption.

Watsonville

On May 8, 2012, Watsonville became the first city in Santa Cruz County to ban plastic bags in all retail stores. An initial 10 cent charge on paper bags is mandated to increase to 25 cents after the first year.

West Hollywood

City Council adopted a plastic bag ban with 10 cent paper charge on August 20, 2012. Effective in large stores in six months, all other retail stores in one year.