A bill introduced in New York City could change the working dynamics of warehouse retailers and grocery stores.
Councilmember Amanda Farias has proposed a measure that would impose a 15-item limit for shoppers using self-checkout lanes in New York City supermarkets and pharmacies. The bill also requires retailers to have at least one employee monitoring every three self-checkout lanes or face fines of at least $100 per day.
Farias said fewer workers in self-checkout areas lead to increased theft and reduced protections for both employees and customers.
Rhode Island is considering regulations that would limit self-checkout lanes to six and require retailers to keep a traditional checkout lane open for every two self-checkout stations. The state currently prohibits stores from operating more than eight self-checkout lanes.
In August 2025, Long Beach passed an ordinance requiring retailers to staff self-checkout areas with at least one employee for every three self-checkout stations. The ordinance also limits self-checkout purchases to no more than 15 items. Additionally, customers cannot use self-checkout to purchase age-restricted items, such as alcohol and tobacco, or items locked to prevent theft.
The Safe Stores Are Staffed Stores law applies to grocery and pharmacy retailers larger than 15,000 square feet, as well as some big-box stores.
Sam’s Club uses its Scan & Go technology to allow customers to skip the checkout line, and Costco is launching a similar system that the retailer claims takes about eight seconds to complete transactions. Earlier this year, the Issaquah, Wash.-based retailer removed some self-checkout lanes at more than 600 stores.