In late August 2025, the City of Long Beach approved a new ordinance implementing self-service checkout staffing requirements in certain retail settings.
Effective September 21, 2025, Long Beach’s ordinance applies to drug retail establishments (e.g., stores that sell prescription and nonprescription medicines along with a wide range of other merchandise, including groceries, beverages, prepared foods and sundries) and food retail establishments. Food retail establishments include stores that are:
- Over 15,000 square feet and primarily sell household food products (e.g., produce, meats, dairy, beverages, baked and prepared foods); or
- Over 85,000 square feet with at least 10 percent of their sales floor dedicated to selling nontaxable food products.
In the ordinance, at least one employee must be assigned to continuously monitor the self-checkout stations, and that employee may not be given other tasks during the shift that would interfere with this monitoring. If a store operates multiple self-checkout stations, it must maintain a staffing ratio of at least one employee for every three stations.
Whenever self-checkout is available, the ordinance requires that a traditional checkout lane with an employee present remain open. In addition, certain purchases cannot be processed through self-service, such as age-restricted items like alcohol or tobacco as well as products with special theft-deterrent devices.
Covered employers must post signs in customer-accessible areas that include a link or QR code to the City of Long Beach website, a summary of the public’s rights under the ordinance and available enforcement options. Employers that fail to comply may face penalties or legal claims, and employees are protected from retaliation if they report violations.
Retailers operating in Long Beach should evaluate whether the ordinance applies to their business, review staffing plans to ensure compliance and update internal procedures before the September 21 effective date.
Vanessa M. Greene, J.D., Employment Law Subject Matter Expert, CalChamber
CalChamber members can reference HRCalifornia’s Local Ordinances section, which includes summaries of many local ordinances in Northern California and Southern California. Not a member? Learn how to power your business with a CalChamber membership.
