Self-Checkout Ordinance Passes in Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa, CA – On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the Costa Mesa City Council passed the “Safe Stores are Staffed Stores” ordinance by a 6-0 vote. The ordinance will address staffing and operational standards for the use of self-checkout in grocery retail stores and retail drug establishments and proactively address retail theft and advance public safety in the city of Costa Mesa.
“The ordinance will have a real positive change for customers and workers in Costa Mesa. The community can go into CVS and see a real human being at checkout,” said Matt Bell, president, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 324. “Costa Mesa has a proud history of championing pro-worker and public safety initiatives, and by passing this ordinance, Costa Mesa can provide thousands of workers – union and non-union – with extra support and better service for customers. This action is another step toward ensuring quality jobs and safe, positive shopping experiences for everyone in the city.”
The grocery industry has fought back against the measure in an effort to continue reducing labor costs by using self-checkout systems. The practice of understaffing and the increasingly widespread reliance on self-checkout create an unsafe environment for both shoppers and workers. Customers, particularly seniors and people with disabilities, are frequently left to struggle with technology that they may not be able to use effectively. These vulnerable populations are underserved and isolated, without the assistance they need, and often face long delays in service.
“Stores push customers towards self-checkout instead of the manual cashier line, and the person in charge of the self-checkout area has to supervise multiple machines while still performing other duties,” said Matt Walters, a Produce Manager at Pavilions. “This is unsustainable and ultimately leads to increased theft. And when we try to prevent theft, customer interactions become more dangerous. This ordinance will help protect workers and lead to better shopping experiences for customers.”
The “Safe Stores are Staffed Stores” ordinance will set a new benchmark for worker protection. Under this ordinance, one dedicated employee will oversee no more than three self-checkout devices, and a manned checkout line must be open before any self-checkout stations are used.
BACKGROUND:
The ordinance seeks to improve citywide public safety, safeguard employees, and lower retail theft. It requires all drug retail establishments with self-checkout stations and grocery stores larger than 15,000 square feet to have a minimum staffing ratio of at least one dedicated employee for every three self-checkout machines.
The ordinance needs final approval, which is expected to be on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2026
Contact: Jenna Thompson, 949.246.1620, jthompson@ufcw324.org
