Single-Use Materials

For examples of compliant foodware in the City of Santa Barbara, please refer to the Foodware Purchasing Guide.

Disposable straws, stirrers, and utensils must be non-plastic.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, food providers may retain and dispense plastic straws as an accommodation to people with disabilities who request them.

To obtain an exemption or extension for a disposable foodware or disposable foodware accessories item, you must apply for an online waiver application form.

The ordinance states that food and beverages served for consumption on vendor premises shall only be served using reusable foodware. 

There are exceptions for disposable paper food wrappers, sleeves, and bags; foil wrappers; paper napkins; straws and paper trays; and plate-liners for dining on the premises, so long as they meet the Disposable Foodware Standards outlined in the ordinance.

For examples of reusable foodware, please refer to the Reusables section of the Foodware Purchasing Guide.

To obtain an extension or exemption, the prepared food vendor must demonstrate an inability to comply due to insurmountable space constraints, undue hardship, and/or other extraordinary, insurmountable circumstances. Access the online waiver application form.

This section of the ordinance regulates the use, sale, and distribution of polystyrene products, including polystyrene foodware containers, cups, produce trays, meat trays, egg cartons, coolers, and packing materials.

Banned Polystyrene Products

The ordinance bans the distribution and sale of single-use plastic bottles equal to or less than 8 fluid ounces in volume.

The ban does not apply to the provision of social services, healthcare settings, and cases deemed to be an emergency by the Sustainability & Resilience Director.

• Prohibiting the sale and distribution of mylar, metalized, and foil balloons.
• Prohibiting the sale and distribution of mylar, foil, and plastic confetti.

Latex balloons are still permitted for sale. The City encourages the community to celebrate without balloons and choose reusable or eco-friendly alternatives which are less likely to end up in the trash. Examples include paper garlands, lanterns, flower displays, bubbles or reusable ribbon streamers.  If you choose to use balloons, make sure to properly dispose of them by popping them, cutting them into small pieces, removing any string or ribbon and, finally, placing them into a trash container.

Effective January 1, 2026, California Senate Bill 1053 bans all plastic carryout bags—including thicker "reusable" plastic bags—at the point of sale in most grocery, retail, and convenience stores. Stores may only provide recycled paper bags for a minimum 10-cent fee.

To learn more about California bag requirements, visit: https://calrecycle.ca.gov/plastics/bagrequirements/

Any person providing food or beverage at a special event subject to Chapter 15.17 of this Code must ensure that at least 10% of beverages served at the event are served in reusable beverage cups.  

An applicant for a special event permit may request a full or partial waiver of the requirements if the applicant can demonstrate an inability to obtain reusable beverage cups for the special event or can demonstrate that the requirement would create undue hardship or practical difficulty.  Access the online waiver application form.