New York City moves to restrict self checkout lanes with new limits and staffing rules

You end up with fewer “self” in self-checkout and more supervised checkout under a different name.

Costco's new checkout limits will affect stores across the US under new bill https://t.co/cw63FdyhaM pic.twitter.com/RMr1NGI4nQ

— New York Post (@nypost) April 21, 2026

Costco’s new checkout limits will affect stores across the US under new bill

In an effort to curb theft and protect jobs, self-checkout limits are being imposed across the country.

In New York City, councilmember Amanda Farías recently introduced a bill that would impose a 15-item limit for shoppers using the self-checkout lanes in NYC supermarkets and pharmacies, including Costco, and require stores to assign at least one employee to every three of those lanes, or face daily fines of at least $100.