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Committee advances ordinance to limit testing of sidewalk delivery robots, sets permits and speed cap
Summary
The committee accepted amendments to an ordinance requiring permits for testing autonomous sidewalk delivery devices, limiting testing to a small number of permits and robots, imposing a 3 mph speed cap, docking rules, and monthly reporting; it forwarded the item to the full Board with a positive recommendation.
The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee on Nov. 29 accepted amendments to an ordinance that would require permits for the testing of autonomous delivery devices on sidewalks and establish operational limits intended to protect pedestrians.
Sponsor Supervisor Yi said the measure reflects months of compromise between advocates and companies. The committee’s changes allow limited, supervised testing by permit: each permit would authorize up to three devices to operate during testing and the ordinance would limit the city to a small number of permits in total (the draft restricted testing to a maximum of three permits citywide during the pilot phase). The legislation also caps testing speed and requires monthly reporting and at least one site visit during the permit period.
On operational detail, the Department of Public Works asked for docking restrictions to prevent devices from stopping on public sidewalks; the ordinance was amended to require docking on private property when devices are not in use. The committee also adjusted the chaperone distance allowed to accompany a device during testing.
Supervisor Yi framed the measure as balancing two values: “the value that our streets belong to people and our value also to help local companies do well,” and urged advocates not to move the issue to a ballot fight if the legislation can be refined by the Board.
The amendments were accepted without objection and the committee forwarded the ordinance to the full Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation. The measure includes civil and administrative penalties for unlawful operation and authorizes the Department of Public Works to oversee permit administration during the pilot phase.
What happens next: The full Board will consider the ordinance. If enacted, a permit regime and reporting requirements will govern limited pilot testing of delivery robots on sidewalks while the city studies broader policy options and formation of a tech task force.
