The Boston City Council passed an ordinance Wednesday that would require food delivery drivers to obtain permits to operate on the city’s streets. In February, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu proposed that food delivery apps such as DoorDash, UberEats, and GrubHub obtain a permit to operate within the city. The proposal came after a rise in complaints over delivery driver activity on streets in Boston, like increased traffic, illegal double parking, and reckless drivers.Companies are now required to obtain a permit and renew the license annually. They will also be required to maintain liability insurance coverage for all modes of transportation, including electric and motorized bikes.Specific data about driver activity, like the distance traveled, date and time of an order, and the type of vehicle, will also need to be submitted in quarterly reports to the Boston Transportation Department. Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn is one of 11 councilors who voted for the new ordinance.”I hear every day from residents across the city about drivers on electric bikes, scooters that are driving one way, the opposite way, on sidewalks, in and out of traffic,” Flynn said. Wu applauded the 11-2 vote. “By holding large, national delivery companies accountable and ensuring insurance coverage for delivery drivers, we will help pedestrians and drivers move around our neighborhoods more safely,” Wu said.The final version of the ordinance did not include a proposed 15 cent per order tax, which city councilors feared would be passed on to consumers and small businesses.”Taxes are not the answer,” Flynn said. “Regulation is the answer, and this is a step in the right direction.”A DoorDash spokesperson responded to the ordinance, telling WCVB in a statement:“Hundreds of Boston customers, Dashers, and merchants made their voices heard loud and clear about some of the consequences that this ordinance could have had, and we’re glad the Council listened to their warning,” DoorDash said. “We’ll continue to work with policymakers to help make sure these kinds of proposals actually make the city’s streets safer while still allowing us to provide support for Dashers and connect customers with beloved Boston restaurants.”The ordinance will go into effect in nine months, beginning January 2026.
The Boston City Council passed an ordinance Wednesday that would require food delivery drivers to obtain permits to operate on the city’s streets.
In February, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu proposed that food delivery apps such as DoorDash, UberEats, and GrubHub obtain a permit to operate within the city.
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The proposal came after a rise in complaints over delivery driver activity on streets in Boston, like increased traffic, illegal double parking, and reckless drivers.
Companies are now required to obtain a permit and renew the license annually. They will also be required to maintain liability insurance coverage for all modes of transportation, including electric and motorized bikes.
Specific data about driver activity, like the distance traveled, date and time of an order, and the type of vehicle, will also need to be submitted in quarterly reports to the Boston Transportation Department.
Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn is one of 11 councilors who voted for the new ordinance.
“I hear every day from residents across the city about drivers on electric bikes, scooters that are driving one way, the opposite way, on sidewalks, in and out of traffic,” Flynn said.
Wu applauded the 11-2 vote.
“By holding large, national delivery companies accountable and ensuring insurance coverage for delivery drivers, we will help pedestrians and drivers move around our neighborhoods more safely,” Wu said.
The final version of the ordinance did not include a proposed 15 cent per order tax, which city councilors feared would be passed on to consumers and small businesses.
“Taxes are not the answer,” Flynn said. “Regulation is the answer, and this is a step in the right direction.”
A DoorDash spokesperson responded to the ordinance, telling WCVB in a statement:
“Hundreds of Boston customers, Dashers, and merchants made their voices heard loud and clear about some of the consequences that this ordinance could have had, and we’re glad the Council listened to their warning,” DoorDash said. “We’ll continue to work with policymakers to help make sure these kinds of proposals actually make the city’s streets safer while still allowing us to provide support for Dashers and connect customers with beloved Boston restaurants.”
The ordinance will go into effect in nine months, beginning January 2026.
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