Are Straws Illegal in Oregon? State and Local Laws Explained

Are straws illegal in Oregon? No. Oregon does not ban straws statewide. Instead, a state law generally requires food and beverage businesses to provide single-use plastic straws only when a customer requests one. That rule is intended to reduce unnecessary plastic while preserving access for people who need straws. Local policies and individual business practices may add details, but a customer can still ask for a straw.

Oregon’s Statewide Straw Law

Oregon House Bill 2509, passed in 2019, established the state’s “straws upon request” rule. The law took effect January 1, 2020, and is codified in Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 616.890. It regulates how covered food and beverage providers distribute single-use plastic straws; it does not make possessing or using a straw illegal.

In practical terms, a covered business generally may not automatically hand out a single-use plastic straw or place one with every order. The customer must request it, or the customer must be offered an opportunity to request one. The rule applies to transactions involving food or beverages for immediate consumption, including dine-in, takeout, and delivery orders.

The law covers a broad range of food and beverage providers, such as restaurants, cafés, bars, food carts, and other businesses that serve food or drinks for immediate consumption. The precise legal definition is in the statute. A provider’s location in Oregon—not whether it is a large chain or an independent business—is the central consideration.

What Customers Can Expect When Ordering

A restaurant may ask whether a customer wants a straw, make straws available at a counter, or provide one after the customer requests it. A business may also choose to use a different ordering system, such as a clearly visible request option for online orders. The key requirement is that a single-use plastic straw is not automatically distributed when the customer has not asked for one.

Customers can ask for a straw when ordering or at any point during a visit. They do not need to explain why they want one. The state law does not require customers to prove a disability or provide a medical reason before receiving a straw.

There is also no general ban on bringing a personal straw to a restaurant. Customers may use reusable or other personal straws, subject to ordinary health, safety, and business policies. A restaurant can set reasonable rules for items brought into its premises, but Oregon’s straw law itself does not prohibit customers from carrying or using their own straw.

Why the Law Includes Accessibility Protections

Some people rely on straws to drink safely or independently. A person may need a straw because of a disability, limited mobility, a medical condition, or difficulty lifting or holding a cup. For some people, flexible plastic straws are more suitable than alternatives because they can bend, are disposable, and may be easier to use.

Oregon’s law does not require a customer to disclose a disability to obtain a straw. Businesses should make the request process accessible and should not treat the law as a reason to refuse a straw to someone who asks. A “straws upon request” policy is different from a straw ban: it limits automatic distribution, not access for customers who need or want one.

Accessibility also matters when a business chooses alternatives. Paper, metal, glass, and rigid reusable straws are not interchangeable for every person or beverage. A business may offer alternatives, but it should not assume that every customer can use them. When a customer requests a straw, staff can ask what is needed rather than making assumptions about the customer’s reason.

Which Straws Are Covered?

HB 2509 focuses on single-use plastic straws. It does not establish a statewide prohibition on every straw material. Reusable straws and alternatives such as paper straws are not the same thing as a single-use plastic straw under the law. Businesses may choose which products to stock, provided they follow applicable requirements and do not unlawfully deny access.

Products marketed as “compostable” or “bioplastic” can create questions because their materials and labeling vary. A product’s marketing description alone does not determine how it is treated under a law. Businesses evaluating a particular straw should check the statute’s definition and obtain compliance advice if the material is unclear. Customers generally do not need to identify the straw’s material before making a request.

The law also should not be confused with Oregon’s restrictions on other single-use items. Requirements for plastic carryout bags, polystyrene food containers, or other packaging are separate measures with their own definitions and rules. A restriction on one product does not automatically mean that straws are prohibited.

Are There Different Straw Laws in Portland or Other Oregon Cities?

Oregon’s straw-on-request requirement is statewide, so customers should expect the basic rule to apply in Portland, Eugene, Salem, Bend, and other Oregon communities. The state law is the primary rule governing routine distribution of single-use plastic straws by covered food and beverage providers.

That does not mean every local setting operates identically. A city, public agency, event venue, school, or private business may have purchasing standards or service policies that affect which straws are stocked or how customers request them. These policies may be stricter in practice than the statewide minimum, such as offering only certain materials, but they do not turn straws into contraband for the public.

There is no general Oregon rule that makes it illegal for a customer to possess a straw in Portland or elsewhere in the state. If a customer encounters a local restriction at a particular venue, the useful question is whether it is a venue policy, a local procurement rule, or a state-law requirement. Those are different sources of rules and may apply to different people.

Local rules can change, and a business operating across multiple cities may follow internal standards that are not city ordinances. For a question about a specific event or public facility, customers can check the venue’s current policy or ask staff. For legal verification, the Oregon Revised Statutes and official city code are more reliable than an informal summary or an outdated news article.

What the Law Means for Restaurants and Other Businesses

Covered providers should train staff not to place a single-use plastic straw in every order by default. They can make straws available upon request, ask customers whether they want one, or provide a clear request option for phone and online orders. Staff should be able to respond promptly when someone asks.

Businesses may decide to stock reusable or alternative straws, but substitutions should be considered carefully. A paper straw may soften in a drink; a rigid straw may not be suitable for a customer with certain access needs. Keeping an appropriate option available for customers who request it can help a business meet customer needs while reducing unnecessary distribution.

Providers should also review the current statutory language rather than relying solely on a supplier’s product description or a generic sustainability claim. A business with questions about whether a particular item or transaction is covered can consult the Oregon statute or seek advice from a qualified attorney. This is especially useful when the business serves customers through multiple channels or sells products that are not for immediate consumption.

What to Do if a Business Automatically Provides a Plastic Straw

If a covered business routinely includes a single-use plastic straw without asking, a customer can first point out the “straws upon request” rule and ask the business to change the practice. A one-time mistake may reflect staff training or an ordering-system setting rather than a deliberate policy. For online orders, customers can use any available special-instructions field and contact the business if the system provides no way to request a straw.

Customers who believe a business is repeatedly violating the law can document what happened, including the business name, location, date, and how the straw was supplied. They can then contact the appropriate state or local consumer-protection or environmental-health office for guidance on the current complaint process. Enforcement procedures and agency responsibilities can change, so checking an official Oregon government website is preferable to relying on an old contact number.

A customer who is denied a straw after requesting one should explain that the request is permitted under the state’s straw-on-request approach. If the refusal relates to a disability or an accessibility need, the customer may also raise the issue with the business’s management. The facts matter: a business’s policy, the type of straw requested, and the circumstances of the interaction can affect which rules apply.

Oregon Straw Law at a Glance

Reliable Sources for Checking the Rules

The most direct source is Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 616, including ORS 616.890 on single-use plastic straws. The text of the original legislation is available through the Oregon Legislative Information System by searching for House Bill 2509 from the 2019 legislative session. These official sources are useful for checking the definitions, scope, and current wording.

For a specific city facility, event, or restaurant, the applicable venue or local government can clarify any additional operating policy. In short, straws are not illegal in Oregon: covered businesses generally must wait for customers to request single-use plastic straws, while customers remain free to ask for one.