Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman has proposed rules that would staff self-checkout by the station and cap those purchases at 15 items. The measure targets grocery and retail stores, and it's being offered as a way to curb theft while holding onto cashier work.
The open question is what a store does once the city sets how many machines one worker may watch. Long Beach tried a version of that, and a lot of the self-checkout did not stay open. ABC7 Bay Area reported that Mandelman's proposal would require one employee for every three self-checkout stations and would limit self-checkout transactions to 15 items or fewer.
Who Would Be Covered, and by Which Ratio
Self-checkout is no longer a side counter. It has become increasingly common in grocery stores and pharmacies, which is why the draft's cutoff matters. Local News Matters reported on October 8 that the ordinance would cover grocery stores over 10,000 square feet and drug stores of any size. UFCW Local 5 is supporting the legislation, and Supervisors Connie Chan, Jackie Fielder, Stephen Sherrill and Shamann Walton are co-sponsors.
The staffing number depends on which report you read. ABC7 describes a requirement of one employee for every three self-checkout stations. The station also reported that James Araby said the proposal would not ban self-checkout and would limit the stations each worker oversees to three. Local News Matters, describing the draft ratio on October 8, reported that up to five self-checkouts could be open at any time with only one cashier on duty. Those accounts do not describe the same rule.
If the Board approves the regulations, ABC7 reported, enforcement would fall to the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement and the San Francisco City Attorney's Office. Local News Matters reported that employees could sue businesses that violate the proposed law, with potential compensation and fines of up to $10,000.
Ten Machines, One Attendant
The proposal is aimed at a workload already visible on the floor. At one San Francisco Safeway, ABC7 found more than 10 self-checkout stations operating with a single attendant. That person assisted customers, resolved technical issues, voided transactions and monitored activity. Security personnel intervened in a confrontation involving a customer.
At one San Francisco grocery store, customers had to scan a receipt barcode to open electronic exit gates. Security personnel also conducted occasional receipt checks before shoppers left. The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce has noted a separate limit on store staff: employees are often prohibited from confronting suspected shoplifters. A gate that reads a barcode does not put another person on the floor.
Supporters argue that one worker monitoring numerous stations creates an unreasonable workload. A 2024 study cited by Local News Matters found that employees at stores with self-checkout faced more customer disrespect and managerial understaffing, and that both got worse as more stations were introduced. David Harrison said the systems typically have cameras, and that human workers troubleshoot the problems.
Fewer Cashiers, and Two Theft Claims
Mandelman has said the reduction of store clerks can't be stopped, but that some jobs could be saved. He has also said more oversight inside the store benefits the community and surrounding businesses, not only the retailer.
ABC7, citing a Bureau of Labor Statistics report, said retail cashier numbers have fallen since 2019 and described a projected 6% nationwide decline over the next decade, about 200,000 jobs. The bureau's occupational outlook puts a 6% decline on a stated window, 2025 to 2035. Despite declining employment, about 521,300 cashier openings are projected each year, on average, over that decade.
The theft claims do not line up, because they are not the same measurement. A 2023 study cited by Local News Matters estimated self-checkout losses at about 3.5% of sales at the register, compared with about 0.12% in a lane staffed by an employee. The Chamber has questioned whether the proposal is necessary and argued that theft at self-checkout stations has declined. KTVU reported a broader local statement from city officials: arrests and targeted enforcement have led to a significant decline in retail theft. Elyze Stewart has said she supports the proposal if it reduces theft and creates jobs.
The Price of One More Employee
Business groups argue the proposal could raise operating costs in stores that already run on narrow margins. Nate Rose said those costs could show up as higher grocery prices, or as a decision to close self-checkout. Tony Ramos opposed the measure on priority grounds. He said the city has more important regulatory work to do.
Araby disputed the claim that the proposal would force stores to eliminate the lanes. He said they should be able to pay one additional employee. Rose is describing the other choice: charge more for the groceries, or take the machines out.
Long Beach Shut the Lanes Down
Long Beach's ordinance took effect on September 11, 2025. Patch reported that grocery and drug stores offering self-checkout must assign at least one employee to supervise the area, and one employee for every three stations when two or more are operating. Whenever self-checkout is offered, the store must also keep at least one staffed lane available. The Long Beach Post reported that the law caps self-checkout at 15 items and bars certain locked or secured items from those stations.
The city's check-in with operators was not a story about new cashier teams. Ten of 13 establishments contacted by the city reported that they had fully closed their self-checkout lanes. The other three had restricted use. Retailers told Long Beach staff the requirements meant longer transactions, fewer checkout options and more congestion at the staffed registers. Opponents of the San Francisco proposal have said those stores also cited concerns about how the ordinance would be interpreted and enforced.
Labor organization representatives told the same staff a different result for workers still assigned to the lanes. They said the ordinance improved workplace safety, customer service, workloads and employee stress by cutting the number of stations each person had to monitor. Retailers described closed kiosks and a longer line at the register that remained. Labor described lighter work for whoever was still watching the machines.
After Sacramento, the Cities
California labor groups took the campaign to city halls after state legislation failed in 2024 and again in 2025, San José Spotlight reported. ABC7 reported that several Sacramento proposals failed to advance, and that four California cities have adopted self-checkout rules. The 15-item cap and the one-to-three staffing figure were already moving through other city halls before Mandelman put them in front of San Francisco.
San Jose councilmembers have asked staff to draw up local regulations intended to prevent shoplifting and preserve jobs. A policy memo there cited measures used elsewhere: at least one employee for every three self-checkout stations, a 15-item limit, and restrictions on products kept behind locked cabinets. The Long Beach Post reported that Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, Anaheim and West Hollywood were eyeing similar rules.
The Safeway ABC7 visited was already running more than 10 self-checkout stations with one attendant. Long Beach required a worker for every three stations and a staffed lane beside the machines. Of the 13 establishments that city contacted, 10 had closed self-checkout completely, and the other three had restricted it. If San Francisco adopts a ratio in that neighborhood, that is the fork those operators already priced: staff the rule, or take the machines out.
