Photo: The Canadian Press

Victoria is the first city in B.C. to ban plastic shopping bags.

City council voted 8-1 to ban single-use bags, such as plastic shopping bags.

Under a new "checkout bag regulation bylaw," businesses will only be allowed to provide paper or reusable bags.

Exceptions include bags for loose bulk food, hardware items, meat or plants, dry cleaning bags, and bags that protect bedding and other large items. The ban doesn't apply to garbage bags.

Businesses that ignore the ban can be fined up to $100 per offence.

"This is about how we do business in Victoria as a city, in every shop, in every restaurant in the city's borders, and hopefully soon, every shop and every restaurant in the region's borders," said Mayor Lisa Helps.

The bylaw will take effect on July 1. Enforcement will begin Jan. 1, 2019.

– with files from CTV Vancouver Island