On November 15, 2021, a Los Angeles City Council ordinance aiming to drastically reduce single-serve plastic utensils within the city went into effect.

Restaurants with more than 26 employees are required to remove all single-use disposable food-ware dispensers from common areas. Additionally, these restaurants are required to stop including plastic utensils and napkins with takeout orders or for dine-in meals unless customers specifically ask for them. If restaurants use an online ordering platform or third-party food delivery service, they are required to require consumers to opt-in to receive plastic utensils, rather than automatically including them with online orders.

While the ordinance is in effect now, it will not be enforced until January 1, 2022. Restaurants will receive a written notice for first and second violations, and fines of $25 after a third violation. Fines shall not exceed $300 per calendar year.

All food and beverage businesses in the city, regardless of the number of employees, will be required to follow the new rules starting April 22, 2022.