In a move aimed at tackling retail theft (a main reason Wal-Mart did away with self-checkout lanes) and reshaping grocery operations, the Costa Mesa City Council has approved a first-of-its-kind local ordinance regulating self-checkout lanes at supermarkets and drug stores. The measure, which takes effect on April 18, 2026, introduces staffing requirements, item limits, and daily fines for non-compliance.
What the ordinance requires
Under the new “Safe Stores are Staffed Stores” law, stores with self-checkout systems must assign at least one employee to monitor every three automated kiosks. Before any self-checkout stations can be opened, at least one traditional, cashier-staffed lane must be available. Additionally, customers using self-checkout are limited to purchasing 15 items or fewer at these unmanned stations.
(Costa Mesa isn’t the first city to adopt this law. Last year, the city of Long Beach, California, adopted a similar…..