# Robot delivery regulations by city -- DEPLOY Ground

How 8 US markets regulate sidewalk delivery robots, ranked by restrictiveness. Device caps, per-operator limits, speed limits, and permit authorities, sourced. A documented hard cap ranks above documented-but-uncapped, which ranks above not-yet-documented; undocumented markets still appear, labeled.

## SF Core (San Francisco, CA)

- Posture: Hard cap of 9 robots citywide (3 per operator)
- Speed limit: 3 mph
- Permit authority: San Francisco Public Works
- Active fleets: Coco, Waymo
- Operability score: 70/100
- San Francisco requires a permit from Public Works for autonomous delivery devices on sidewalks. Hard cap of 9 devices citywide, 3 per operator. Speed limit 3 mph on sidewalks. Permit requires insurance documentation and a site plan. Operators must share operational data and report incidents. Permit fee: $66 application + $129 annual per device. Enacted Dec 2017 (Ord. 190-17), effective 2018. ROBOTAXI LAYER: Waymo operates under CPUC Driverless Deployment Permit (approved Aug 2023) + CA DMV Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Permit. Cruise permit suspended Oct 2023. CPUC regulates fare-charging passenger service; DMV regulates vehicle deployment.
- Corridor: /corridors/sf-core.md

## Atlanta (Atlanta, GA)

- Posture: Documented, no numeric cap
- Speed limit: 7 mph
- Permit authority: State of Georgia (HB 986 / O.C.G.A. 40-6-320)
- Active fleets: Waymo, Serve Robotics
- Operability score: 70/100
- Georgia regulates PDDs under O.C.G.A. 40-6-320, amended by HB 986 (effective Jul 1, 2026). Speed limit increased from 4 mph to 7 mph. State law preempts local regulation: cities cannot ban PDDs. No device cap, no per-operator limit, no permit authority at city level. Weight limit 500 lbs. ROBOTAXI LAYER: Waymo operates robotaxi in Atlanta under GA DDS autonomous vehicle framework (O.C.G.A. 40-6-361 et seq.). No separate passenger-service permit required.
- Corridor: /corridors/atlanta.md

## Austin (Austin, TX)

- Posture: Documented, no numeric cap
- Speed limit: 10 mph
- Permit authority: State of Texas (Texas Transportation Code Ch. 552A preempts city regulation)
- Active fleets: Avride, Waymo
- Operability score: 78/100
- Texas regulates PDDs under Transportation Code Chapter 552A, which preempts local regulation of PDD operation on sidewalks and pedestrian areas. Speed limit 10 mph in pedestrian areas, 25 mph on road shoulders. No device cap, no per-operator limit, no city permit required. Weight limit 500 lbs (loaded). State preemption means cities cannot ban PDDs or impose additional permit requirements. NOTE: TX 552A preempts local PDD rules but does NOT preempt robotaxi franchise terms (those are regulated by TDLR under SB 2807, 2025). ROBOTAXI LAYER: TDLR issues Autonomous Vehicle (AV) ride-hailing permits (Tesla Robotaxi LLC permit effective Aug 2025, expires Aug 2026). TX DMV regulates AV testing under SB 2205 (2017). Waymo operates under TDLR permit + TX DMV authorization.
- Corridor: /corridors/austin.md

## Chicago (Chicago, IL)

- Posture: Documented, no numeric cap
- Speed limit: 5 mph
- Permit authority: Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP)
- Active fleets: Coco, Serve Robotics
- Operability score: 45/100
- Chicago allows PDDs under a pilot program managed by CDOT and BACP. Speed limit 5 mph on sidewalks. Two-year pilot approved Sep 2022 (Emerging Business Permit). Pilot expires May 2027. Permit fee: $250 application. Insurance required. nosidewalkbots.org petition (4,350+ signatures as of 2026) opposes renewal. ROBOTAXI LAYER: No robotaxi operations in Chicago. Illinois AV testing regulated under 625 ILCS 5/11-208 (automated driving systems).
- Corridor: /corridors/chicago.md

## Dallas-Fort Worth (Dallas, TX)

- Posture: Documented, no numeric cap
- Speed limit: 10 mph
- Permit authority: State of Texas (Texas Transportation Code Ch. 552A preempts city regulation)
- Active fleets: Avride, Serve Robotics, Wing
- Operability score: 82/100
- Texas regulates PDDs under Transportation Code Chapter 552A (same as Austin). State preemption: no city-level PDD ordinance. Speed limit 10 mph, no device cap, no permit. ROBOTAXI LAYER: Avride operates robotaxi service in Dallas under TDLR permit (launched Dec 2025 via Uber). Wing operates drone delivery under FAA Part 135 certificate (separate regulatory regime from PDDs).
- Corridor: /corridors/dallas-ftworth.md

## LA: West Side (Los Angeles, CA)

- Posture: Documented, no numeric cap
- Speed limit: 5 mph
- Permit authority: LADOT
- Active fleets: Serve Robotics, Coco
- Operability score: 75/100
- Los Angeles requires a permit from LADOT for PDD operation on sidewalks. Speed limit 5 mph on sidewalks and crosswalks, 15 mph on road shoulders. Permit requires insurance and indemnification. No citywide device cap. Permit fee varies by operator agreement. Ordinance effective 2020 (Ord. 20-1328, adding LAMC Sec. 71.30). West Hollywood made its PDD program permanent May 2025 (4-1 council vote): $4 per device per day advertising fee, annual ADA/geofencing violation penalties, first city to tie robot fees to sidewalk improvements. ROBOTAXI LAYER: Waymo operates under CPUC Driverless Deployment Permit + CA DMV permit. Zoox operates under CA DMV permit (passenger service pilot).
- Corridor: /corridors/la-westside.md

## Miami (Miami, FL)

- Posture: Documented, no numeric cap
- Speed limit: 12 mph
- Permit authority: State of Florida (Florida Statutes 316.2071)
- Active fleets: Serve, Coco, Waymo, Avride, Cartken, Pinkbot
- Operability score: 76/100
- Florida regulates PDDs under Florida Statutes 316.2071, which preempts local regulation: cities cannot ban PDDs. Speed limit 12 mph. No device cap, no per-operator limit, no local permit. Weight limit 500 lbs. ROBOTAXI LAYER: Waymo launched commercial robotaxi service in Miami Jan 2026 under FL DHSMV autonomous vehicle framework (Fla. Stat. 316.85). Zoox operates under FL DHSMV permit. FL does not require a separate CPUC-equivalent passenger-service permit.
- Corridor: /corridors/miami.md

## Phoenix (Phoenix, AZ)

- Posture: Documented, no numeric cap
- Speed limit: 12 mph
- Permit authority: State of Arizona (Arizona Revised Statutes 28-8253)
- Active fleets: Waymo, DoorDash
- Operability score: 80/100
- Arizona regulates PDDs under ARS 28-8253. Speed limit 12 mph. No device cap, no per-operator limit, no local permit. State preemption of local PDD regulation. ROBOTAXI LAYER: Arizona DOT (ADOT) administers AV testing and deployment under Executive Order 2015-04 (updated 2022). No separate passenger-service permit required (AZ is permissive). Waymo operates commercially under ADOT authorization. DoorDash Dot operates sidewalk delivery under ARS 28-8253 (no permit needed).
- Corridor: /corridors/phoenix.md

## Also

- Monthly report: /corridors/report.md
- How the score is built: /corridors/methodology.md
- All corridors: /corridors.md

_DEPLOY Ground. Canonical: /corridors/compare_