What to Know
- Philly Mayor Jim Kenney signed legislation that prohibits most retail locations from refusing to take cash or charging cash customers more.
- A city spokesperson said many poor consumers still do not have access to bank accounts in explaining why Kenney signed the bill into law.
- The law will take effect July 1 and exempts certain businesses like parking garages and wholesale club stores.
The mayor of Philadelphia has signed off on legislation that would force city stores to take cash, banning so-called cashless stores.
The ordinance signed into law by Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney Thursday will prohibit most retail locations from refusing to take cash or charging cash-paying customers a higher price. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports the law will take effect July 1 and exempts certain businesses like parking garages; telephone, mail and internet transactions; and wholesale club stores.
A City spokesperson said many poor consumers still do not have access to bank accounts in explaining why Kenney signed the bill into law.
A spokesperson for City Council says they believe that Philadelphia is the first major city to pass a ban on cashless stores.
Enforcement will be covered under the City's Fair Practices Ordinance, which is administered by the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, a City spokesman said.
City officials previously said Amazon had told the city the legislation would "impede" plans for an Amazon Go cashier-less store. An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment.
