Walmart, Target Face 15-Item Self-Checkout Limits in New US Rules

Lawmakers in four US states and cities are imposing strict limits on self-checkout operations at Walmart, Target, and other major retailers. New York, Ohio, West Hollywood, and Rhode Island are rolling out rules that cap transactions at 15 items, require one employee per self-checkout bank, and limit operating lanes. The crackdown follows a 13.8% surge in California shoplifting from 2023 to 2024 and industry-wide losses exceeding $100 billion annually, with self-checkout theft accounting for roughly half of that damage.

West Hollywood leads the charge with unanimous vote

West Hollywood City Council unanimously approved new self-checkout rules on Monday, according to Beverly Press. The exact standards are still being finalized with lawmakers, but proposals include limiting customers to 15 items per transaction and staffing at least three employees for every one self-checkout lane. Councilman John Erickson, who first proposed the measure, emphasized the rules target theft prevention without banning the technology outright. “This is not about banning self-checkout,” Erickson said. “It’s about making sure the automation does not come at the expense of workers, customers and public safety.”

Ohio, New York, and Rhode Island follow with similar caps

In Ohio, Walmart customers wanting to use self-checkout lanes would be limited to just 15 items. New York City Council has discussed identical 15-item caps for retailers including Target and CVS. Rhode Island went further: legislation passed in June requires stores to operate no more than eight self-checkout lanes at a time, taking effect in January 2027. All three states aim to reduce theft while maintaining employment levels at checkout areas.

The theft crisis behind the crackdown

Retail theft has exploded across the United States. California saw shoplifting incidents jump 13.8% from 2023 to 2024, according to data cited by West Hollywood lawmakers from the Public Policy Institute of California. Nationally, self-checkout theft alone accounts for roughly $50 billion to $56 billion of the $100 billion-plus in annual retail losses. Walmart has acknowledged significant theft losses in recent years, though the company has not disclosed exact annual figures. The crisis forced Walmart to reduce self-checkout machines in locations including Shrewsbury, Cleveland, and parts of New Mexico, adding more staffed checkout lanes instead.

What this means for shoppers and retailers

Customers with more than 15 items will face longer waits or must use traditional staffed lanes. Retailers must hire additional checkout attendants to monitor self-service areas, raising labor costs at a time when margins are already under pressure. For Walmart, which operates thousands of US stores, the patchwork of state and local rules will require different operational models by region. The company has not yet commented on how it will adapt to these regulations.

Final Thoughts

Self-checkout restrictions are spreading across the US as theft losses mount. Retailers face higher staffing costs and operational complexity, while shoppers may experience slower checkout times. The trend signals a retreat from full automation back to hybrid models with human oversight.

FAQs

Disclaimer:

The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes.  Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.