Costco Sues Pompano Beach Over Rejected Site Plan
The retailer alleges the city violated its own zoning code when denying plans for a new store in The Pomp.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Costco has filed a lawsuit against the City of Pompano Beach after the planning and zoning board denied its site plan application for a new store in The Pomp, a retail hub near Racetrack Road and Powerline Boulevard. The city commission later denied Costco's appeal of that decision.
Why it matters
The suit alleges the city departed from its own zoning code, a claim that could shape how future retail projects are reviewed locally. City staff had recommended approval, putting the board's denial at the center of the dispute.
Costco filed suit in August 2026 after the planning and zoning board and city commission both rejected its site plan, despite city staff recommending approval. The source does not report financial figures, and the court has not yet ruled on the claims.
The players
Costco
Costco Wholesale is a large publicly traded membership warehouse retailer that operates stores across the United States and internationally.
City of Pompano Beach
Pompano Beach is a city in Broward County, Florida, whose planning and zoning board and city commission reviewed the Costco site plan.
The details
Costco alleges the planning and zoning board used unlawful criteria, citing a lack of public engagement and differences from a previous Publix plan for the same site. The lawsuit contends the city violated its own zoning code in rejecting the application for the proposed Costco store in The Pomp.
Timeline
August 2026: Costco filed the lawsuit against the City of Pompano Beach.
Legal Context
Costco's claim turns on whether the city followed its own zoning code, a question that determines whether a staff finding of code compliance can be overridden by a planning board. The outcome may guide how Pompano Beach applies site-plan standards to other retail projects in The Pomp.
For shoppers in Pompano Beach, the dispute means the proposed Costco store in The Pomp is on hold and its opening date is unclear. Residents should watch for the court's ruling, which could determine whether the store is built at that location.
The takeaway
Retail projects in Pompano Beach can stall in local review even after staff recommend approval, so developers and residents alike may want to track planning board and commission decisions closely.
Further reading
For other retail store openings and closures in the area, see Openings & Closings coverage for Pompano Beach.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WLRN.
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