Skip to code content (skip section selection)
Compare to:
Sacramento Overview
Sacramento, CA Code of Ordinances
SACRAMENTO CITY CODE
CHARTER
Title 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Title 2 ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL
Title 3 REVENUE AND FINANCE
Title 4 ETHICS AND OPEN GOVERNMENT
Title 5 BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS
Chapter 5.04 ADULT-RELATED ESTABLISHMENTS
Chapter 5.06 ADULT-ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESSES, ADULT PERFORMERS AND FIGURE MODELS
Chapter 5.08 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSES
Chapter 5.12 AMUSEMENT ARCADES
Chapter 5.16 ASTROLOGY AND RELATED PRACTICES
Chapter 5.18 SHARED-RIDEABLE BUSINESSES
Chapter 5.20 BILLIARD AND POOL PARLORS
Chapter 5.24 BINGO
Chapter 5.28 CABLE TELEVISION FRANCHISES
Chapter 5.32 CARDROOMS
Chapter 5.44 CHRISTMAS TREE LOTS
Chapter 5.48 COIN-OPERATED GAMING MACHINES
Chapter 5.60 FILM PERMITS
Chapter 5.64 FIREARM AND AMMUNITION SALES
Chapter 5.66 FIREARM AMMUNITION SALES LOGS
Chapter 5.68 FOOD VENDING VEHICLES*
Chapter 5.76 HOTELS, ROOMING HOUSES AND SIMILAR ESTABLISHMENTS
Chapter 5.78 HOTEL WORKER PROTECTION
Chapter 5.80 JUNK DEALERS, SECONDHAND DEALERS, PAWNBROKERS AND PALLET RESELLERS
Chapter 5.82 SHOPPING CARTS
Chapter 5.84 MINIATURE GOLF
Chapter 5.86 MOBILE SERVICE VEHICLES
Chapter 5.88 OUTDOOR VENDING
Chapter 5.90 SIDEWALK VENDING
Chapter 5.92 PAY TELEPHONES
Chapter 5.94 PEDICABS*
Chapter 5.96 PICTURE ARCADES
Chapter 5.100 PRIVATE PATROL SERVICE
Chapter 5.104 PRODUCERS' MARKET
Chapter 5.108 ENTERTAINMENT ESTABLISHMENTS
Chapter 5.112 SELF-SERVICE TOBACCO MERCHANDISING
Chapter 5.114 SHORT-TERM RENTALS
Chapter 5.116 SOLICITORS AND CANVASSERS
Chapter 5.124 MASSAGE THERAPY
Chapter 5.128 STREET PHOTOGRAPHERS
Chapter 5.132 TATTOOING
Chapter 5.136 TAXICABS
Chapter 5.138 TOBACCO RETAILERS
Chapter 5.140 TOBACCO VENDING MACHINES
Chapter 5.144 TOW CARS
Chapter 5.148 AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRESERVATION
Chapter 5.150 CANNABIS BUSINESSES*
Chapter 5.152 REGULATION OF UNATTENDED DONATION BOXES
Chapter 5.154 REDUCTION OF SINGLE-USE PLASTIC AND PAPER BAGS
Chapter 5.156 TENANT PROTECTION
Title 6 (RESERVED)
Title 7 (RESERVED)
Title 8 HEALTH AND SAFETY
Title 9 PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND WELFARE
Title 10 VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
Title 11 (RESERVED)
Title 12 STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC PLACES
Title 13 PUBLIC SERVICES
Title 14 (RESERVED)
Title 15 BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
Title 16 (Reserved)
Title 17 PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CODE
Title 18 ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS
TABLES
Loading...
5.154.010   Legislative findings and intent.
   A.   It is the intent of the city in enacting this chapter to reduce the use of single-use plastic bags and paper bags, and encourage the use of reusable bags by consumers and retailers.
   B.   California retailers distribute approximately nineteen billion (19,000,000,000) single-use plastic bags every year, equating to approximately five hundred twenty-two (522) bags per person. It is estimated that less than five percent of those bags are recycled. The bags end up in landfills, rivers, bays, oceans, and other natural environments. Plastic bags can break down into small pieces that contaminate soils and waterways, and can be ingested by marine life causing suffocation.
   C.   Due to their light weight, single-use plastic bags can easily become caught in the wind, contributing to litter and visual blight. Collecting these bags is challenging as they snag on trees and fences and are difficult to retrieve.
   D.   While the city accepts single-use plastic bags in the curbside recycling program, handling these bags at the recycling center is cumbersome. The bags clog and slow sorting machines. On average, the processor must shut down its sorting machinery six times per day to remove tangled bags, which increases the processing cost for commingled recyclables.
   E.   By enacting this chapter, the city intends to mitigate the negative environmental and public health impacts resulting from single-use plastic bags, reduce litter and visual blight caused by plastic bags, and minimize the cost and inconvenience of handling single-use plastic bags at local recycling centers. (Ord. 2015-0007 § 1)
5.154.020   Definitions.
   As used in this chapter, the following definitions apply:
   "City manager" means the city manager or designee.
   "Customer" means any person purchasing goods from a store.
   "Postconsumer recycled material" means material that is recycled after completing its intended end use and product-life cycle. Postconsumer recycled material does not include materials and by-products generated from, and commonly reused within, an original manufacturing and fabrication process.
   "Product bag" means a bag without handles, made of any material, and provided to a customer to:
      1.   Transport produce, bulk food, or meat from a produce, bulk food, or meat department within a store to the point of sale;
      2.   Hold a prescription medication dispensed from a pharmacy; or
      3.   Segregate food or merchandise that could be damaged, or that could damage or contaminate other food or merchandise, when placed together in one bag.
   "Recyclable" means material that can be sorted, cleansed, and reconstituted using available recycling collection programs for the purpose of using the altered form in the manufacture of a new product.
   "Recycled paper bag" means a paper carryout bag that:
      1.   Is one hundred (100) percent recyclable;
      2.   Contains a minimum of forty (40) percent postconsumer recycled material;
      3.   Is capable of composting, consistent with the timeline and specifications of the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard D6400, as amended from time to time;
      4.   Displays the name of the manufacturer, the country where the bag was manufactured, and the percentage of postconsumer content the bag contains; and
      5.   Indicates that it is recyclable in a highly visible manner on the outside of the bag.
   "Reusable bag" means a bag with handles that is specifically designed and manufactured for multiple reuse and meets all of the following requirements:
      1.   Is made of cloth, washable woven fabric, or other durable material that is at least 2.25 mils thick;
      2.   Is machine washable or capable of being cleaned and disinfected;
      3.   Is capable of carrying a minimum of twenty-two (22) pounds over a distance of at least one hundred seventy-five (175) feet, one hundred twenty-five (125) times;
      4.   Has a minimum volume capacity of fifteen (15) liters;
      5.   Does not contain lead, cadmium, or any other heavy metal in toxic amounts, as defined by applicable state and federal regulations for packaging or reusable bags; and
      6.   Has printed on the bag, or on a tag that is permanently affixed to the bag, the name of the manufacturer; the country where the bag was manufactured; a statement that the bag does not contain lead, cadmium, or any other heavy metal in toxic amounts; and the percentage of postconsumer recycled materials used, if any.
   "Single-use plastic bag" means any bag made of plastic derived from either petroleum or a biologically-based source, such as corn or other plant sources, which is provided to a customer at the point of sale. The term includes compostable and biodegradable bags. The term does not include reusable bags or product bags.
   "Store" means any of the following retail establishments located within the city:
      1.   A supermarket, defined as a full-line, self-service retail store with gross annual sales of two million dollars ($2,000,000.00), or more, and which sells a line of dry grocery, canned goods, or nonfood items and perishable items;
      2.   A store of at least ten thousand (10,000) square feet of retail space that generates sales or use tax pursuant to the Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law (Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 7200) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code) and that has a pharmacy licensed pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code; or
      3.   A convenience food store, foodmart, or other entity that is engaged in the retail sale of a limited line of goods, including milk, bread, soda, and snack foods, and that holds a Type 20 or 21 license issued by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. (Ord. 2015-0035 § 1; Ord. 2015-0007 § 1)
5.154.030   Ban on single-use plastic bags.
   Stores shall not provide a single-use plastic bag to any customer. (Ord. 2015-0007 § 1)
5.154.040   Permitted bags.
   Stores shall make available to customers only recycled paper bags, reusable bags, or product bags for the purpose of carrying away goods or other materials from the point of sale, subject to the terms of this chapter. Nothing in this chapter prohibits customers from using bags of any type that they bring to the store themselves or from carrying away goods that are not placed in a bag in lieu of using bags provided by the store. (Ord. 2015-0035 § 2; Ord. 2015-0007 § 1)
Loading...