This blog was last updated on June 26, 2021
Last July the City of Tacoma, Washington passed Ordinance No. 28367, a “Bring Your Own Bag Ordinance.” This law bans the distribution of disposable plastic bags by retailers and imposes a minimum five cent fee on paper bags. Retailers (including restaurants), will be allowed to keep this fee. The law does not apply to bags for produce, newspapers, or dry cleaning. This bag ordinance takes effect on July 12, 2017. The state Department of Revenue has previously stated that similar fees passed by other cities would be subject to the retail sales tax and the retailing B&O tax.