<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-17-004544.txt : 20170314
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-17-004544.hdr.sgml : 20170314
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170314113900
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-17-004544
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170310
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170314
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170314

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROSS STORES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000745732
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-FAMILY CLOTHING STORES [5651]
		IRS NUMBER:				941390387
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0203

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5130 HACIENDA DRIVE
		CITY:			DUBLIN
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94568
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9259654400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5130 HACIENDA DRIVE
		CITY:			DUBLIN
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94568

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Hartshorn Michael J.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001598716

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14678
		FILM NUMBER:		17687339

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5130 HACIENDA DRIVE
		CITY:			DUBLIN
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94568
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-03-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000745732</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ROSS STORES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ROST</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001598716</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hartshorn Michael J.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5130 HACIENDA DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DUBLIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94568</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Group S.V.P., CFO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-03-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9585</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>66.9407</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>67686</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported is a weighted average price.  The shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $66.94 to $66.95, inclusive.  The reporting person undertakes to provide to Ross Stores, Inc., any security holder of Ross Stores, Inc., and to the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request, full information regarding the numbers of shares sold at each separate price within this price range.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael Hartshorn</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-03-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
