Chesterfield store charging customers Richmond’s new plastic bag tax despite being outside city
VENN
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A Chesterfield County grocery store is charging its customers Richmond's new tax on disposable plastic bags despite being outside of city limits.
Starting on Jan. 1, 2026, Richmond's new 5-cent tax on disposable plastic bags went into effect. This tax is to be levied on each disposable plastic bag given out to shoppers by grocery stores, convenience stores and drug stores within the city -- though there are several exceptions for certain types of bags.
8News previously reported that, in the few days since this tax was implemented, some Henrico County businesses incorrectly charged customers this tax.
On Tuesday, Jan. 6, 8News received a tip that a customer of Fresh to Frozen -- a grocery store located at 7803 Midlothian Turnpike in Chesterfield -- was incorrectly charged 5 cents for a plastic produce bag.
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Richmond's law only applies to businesses within the city -- and Chesterfield does not have a plastic bag tax of its own on the books. Additionally, things like produce bags are meant to be exempt from Richmond's plastic bag tax.
An 8News team member visited the store that afternoon and found signs posted that indicated Fresh to Frozen was charging this tax.
A sign posted to the front door of Fresh to Frozen, a grocery store on Midlothian Turnpike in Chesterfield County. (Photo: Katelyn Harlow/8News)
"Due to the new law that has passed as of 01/01/2026, all plastic bags are 5 [cents] each," a sign posted on the store's door, which is pictured above, reads. "If you would like to grab a box for your groceries, they are in the foyer."
However, when our 8News team member went to purchase an item in a produce bag, she was not charged 5 cents for said bag.
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Shortly after this interaction, another 8News team member called the store and spoke to a manager about the tax. The manager confirmed that Fresh to Frozen was not charging a tax on produce bags "anymore," but said it is continuing to charge a tax on plastic grocery bags.
When the 8News team member asked why the store is charging this tax when they are outside of the city of Richmond, the manager said that Fresh to Frozen is located within the city.
Using both the federal Census Geocoder and Richmond's own ArcGIS map, 8News confirmed that Fresh to Frozen is located in Chesterfield County.
A map showing where Fresh to Frozen is located [marked with a pin] relative to Richmond's city boundary [highlighted in blue]. (Photo: Richmond GeoHub/ArcGIS)
As shown in the map above, the store is streets away from Richmond's boundary.
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8News reached out to Chesterfield County for a statement on this incident. We have not heard back as of the time of reporting.
This is a developing story, stay with 8News for updates.
Katelyn Harlow and Julia Broberg contributed to this report.
