Compliance Guide2.25 mil / 22lb Verified

The Zero-Tax Solution for Montgomery County

Wovenary Intelligence

April 9, 2026· Updated April 10, 2026

Compliance Guide

Stop collecting the 10¢ bag tax. Switch to verified tax-exempt reusable bags engineered to meet every durability standard of MoCo Law. Sourced locally in Bethesda.

Chapter 48 Summary

What's Legal in MoCo?

A quick breakdown of bag regulations at point of sale.

Banned

Thin Plastic Bags

Less than 4 mils thick

Single-use plastic bags are strictly prohibited at point of sale. No exceptions.

Fine: $500+

10¢ Tax

Paper Bags

Recyclable paper

Allowed, but you must charge $0.10 per bag and track it on receipts for county remittance.

= $100 per 1,000 bags

Tax ExemptRecommended

Wovenary Reusables

Stitched handles + 24oz canvas

Fully compliant as a “Reusable Carryout Bag.” Zero tax. Zero reporting. Customers keep the bag.

Save $0.10 per customer

Jurisdiction Tool

Am I Exempt?

Not every town in MoCo has adopted Chapter 48. Check your status.

What Bags Are Still Legal?

Source: County Code 52-78A

Use Case	Plastic?	10¢ Tax?	Wovenary Solution
Standard Retail Checkout	No	Yes	Retail Shopper
Restaurant Takeout	Depends	Exempt	Kraft/NW Tote
Pharmacy / Prescription	Yes	Exempt	Small Die-Cut
Dry Cleaning / Garment	Yes	Exempt	Non-Woven Cover

The Compliance Math

Why paper bags are costing you (and your customers) a fortune.

Paper Bags

Bag Cost$0.15

County Tax+ $0.10

Total Cost Per Use

$0.25

Recommended

Wovenary Reusable

Bag Cost$0.45

County Tax$0.00

Effective Cost (3rd Visit)

FREE

Compliance Cost Calculator

How many bags does your store distribute per week?

500/week

That's 26,000 bags per year

Switch to reusable and save $5,038 to $5,200 per year

Based on 500 bags/week. Reusable bags eliminate the $0.10 county tax entirely and reduce total bag purchases through reuse.

Get a Quote for Reusable Bags

Compliance Checklist

MoCo Chapter 48 — Audit Ready

0%complete

Critical Items Remaining

Complete all required items to meet minimum compliance standards.

Request Compliance Spec Sheet

We're in 20814

Serving Pike & Rose, Downtown Silver Spring, Rockville Town Center, and Gaithersburg.

Don't order compliance bags from a dropshipper in Nevada. We're based in Bethesda and deal with the same local inspectors you do.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Thin plastic bags under 4 mils are banned at point of sale anywhere in Montgomery County. This includes standard grocery bags.

Yes, a 10-cent tax applies to all paper bags provided at checkout. This tax must be itemized on the receipt and remitted to the county.

Yes, reusable bags made of stitched cloth or durable plastic (minimum 4 mils) with stitched handles are tax-exempt. Wovenary bags meet these specific exemption requirements.

Wovenary is a local Bethesda supplier (ZIP 20814) offering same-day pickup and delivery of Chapter 48 compliant reusable bags to businesses throughout Montgomery County.

Wovenary offers non-woven polypropylene bags starting at 1,000 units and premium canvas totes starting at 300 units. Both options are MoCo Chapter 48 compliant.

Yes. The City of Gaithersburg has not adopted Chapter 48. Businesses there may still use plastic bags but must charge the 10-cent fee.

Yes. Restaurant takeout and delivery orders are exempt from the 10-cent tax under Chapter 48.

Sources & References

Montgomery County Code Chapter 48 — Official County legislation on carryout bag regulations

Montgomery County Dept. of Environmental Protection — Primary enforcement and compliance information

Official County FAQs — Frequently asked questions for businesses and consumers

Montgomery County Bag Tax

Montgomery County, Maryland requires all retailers to charge a 10¢ fee on disposable bags under County Code Chapter 48. The fee applies to both paper and thin plastic bags. Reusable bags with stitched handles, designed for 125+ uses, and meeting minimum thickness requirements (2.25 mil for plastic, 80 GSM for non-woven) are fully tax-exempt.

Exempt Bag Requirements

To qualify as tax-exempt under Chapter 48, a reusable bag must have stitched (not heat-sealed) handles, be designed for at least 125 uses, support 25 pounds over 175 feet, and be made of washable fabric or durable plastic at least 2.25 mil thick. Non-woven polypropylene bags at 80+ GSM and cotton canvas bags both meet these requirements.

The Zero-Tax Solution for Montgomery County

What's Legal in MoCo?

Thin Plastic Bags

Paper Bags

Wovenary Reusables

Am I Exempt?

What Bags Are Still Legal?

The Compliance Math

Paper Bags

Wovenary Reusable

Compliance Cost Calculator

Compliance Checklist

We're in 20814

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & References

MoCo Bag Compliance: Key Facts

Montgomery County Bag Tax

Exempt Bag Requirements

Related Resources