Chapter 11.50

AUTONOMOUS AND SEMI-AUTONOMOUS PERSONAL DELIVERY DEVICES

This chapter prohibits the unauthorized operation and deployment of autonomous and semiautonomous personal delivery devices (PDDs) within the city, except pursuant to an operating agreement approved by the city. This chapter establishes standards to ensure that PDDs promote public safety, convenience, and welfare while promoting positive integration into existing local infrastructure. These standards also aim to advance the city's climate action, economic vitality, and accessibility goals by enabling efficient, low-cost delivery options, reducing vehicle congestion, and supporting the success of small and local businesses. These standards shall be included and specified in operating agreements to guide operators' PDD fleet design, operation, and management.

Operators of PDDs within the city shall secure the appropriate approvals as required by this chapter and ensure adherence to all legal and safety standards governing the operation of PDDs within the city limits.

(Ord. 25-29, 12/15/2025)

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

"Autonomous" shall mean the operation of a PDD without direct human intervention, relying on sensors, software, and hardware for navigation and decision-making.

"City" shall mean the City of West Hollywood.

"City Manager" shall mean the City Manager of the City of West Hollywood or their designee.

"Geofencing" shall mean the use of GPS or other technology to create virtual boundaries that restrict PDD operations in designated areas.

"Operating agreement" shall mean the binding agreement between the city and an operator that outlines the detailed terms, conditions, rules, fees, operational standards, insurance requirements, indemnification provisions, and other obligations necessary for the operator to deploy and operate PDDs within the city limits, in accordance with this chapter and any rules or regulations adopted by the City Manager.

"Operator" shall mean the person or entity that owns, controls, or manages the PDD and is responsible for its operation, including remote monitoring or control.

"Personal delivery device" or "PDD" shall mean any motorized device that is: (1) manufactured for transporting goods, products, or other items in a pedestrian area, and (2) equipped with automated and/or manual driving technology, including software and hardware, that enables the operation of the device with or without the remote support and supervision of a human.

"Semi-autonomous" shall mean the operation of a PDD with remote human supervision or control capabilities. (Ord. 25-29, 12/15/2025)

At no time shall a person deploy or operate, or cause to be deployed or operated, an autonomous

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City of West Hollywood, CA

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§ 11.50.050

or semi-autonomous PDD on city sidewalks or pedestrian paths of travel without first entering into a valid operating agreement with the city and paying the required application and operating fees. A PDD may transport items, products, or any other materials on city sidewalks or pedestrian paths of travel for commercial purposes, provided that the operator has entered into an operating agreement and has paid the required fees. (Ord. 25-29, 12/15/2025)

• a. Operator Application. An operator seeking to deploy or operate PDDs in the City shall submit an application on a form provided by the city to the City Manager, including:

  1. A description of the PDDs in operator's fleet, including make, model, dimensions, weight, speed capabilities, and safety features.

  2. Proposed operational areas, fleet size, and hours of operation.

  3. Evidence of compliance with state, federal, and local laws, including any applicable California Vehicle Code provisions.

  4. A plan for data sharing, community engagement, and handling complaints. The plan shall include at least two public engagement sessions annually, one of which shall be dedicated to accessibility feedback and sidewalk safety review. The plan must also describe how the operator will notify and engage impacted neighborhoods before expanding service areas. The plan shall include integration with the city's servicerequest platform for real-time response tracking, consistent with the operating agreement.

  5. Proof of insurance as required in the operating agreement.

  6. Payment of an application fee as established by City Council resolution.

• b. Application Process. The application process shall include a twenty-day public comment period, with notice posted on the city website and in proposed operational areas.

• c. Operating Agreement. The city may enter into an operating agreement with an operator if the application demonstrates that operations will comply with this chapter, promote public safety, and align with city goals.

• (Ord. 25-29, 12/15/2025)

• a. Accessibility. PDDs must incorporate proactive accessibility features, including visual alerts, high-contrast visual markings, and predictable operating behavior, to ensure all users of the public right-of-way can anticipate and navigate around devices safely. Operators shall demonstrate ADA compliance in deployment plans and participate in accessibility audits.

• b. Operators shall comply with all operational standards described in the operating agreement, which may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Speed and weight.

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City of West Hollywood, CA § 11.50.050

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§ 11.50.070

2. Hours of operation.

3. Allowed and prohibited delivery items.

4. Geofencing and prohibited areas.

5. Accessibility.

6. Deployment and parking.

7. Advertising.

8. Community engagement and reporting.

9. Opt-out requirements for merchants and customers.

• c. Operators shall maintain an average service-request response time under thirty minutes and comply with quarterly performance benchmarks established by the City Manager.

• (Ord. 25-29, 12/15/2025)

• a. Each PDD shall be equipped with, at a minimum:

  1. A braking system capable of stopping within ten feet when traveling at a maximum speed.

  2. Front and rear lights visible from three hundred feet, reflective materials, and flags or markers for visibility. Lights shall remain illuminated for at least ninety seconds after stopping.

  3. Sensors for obstacle detection, including pedestrians and curbs.

  4. Remote monitoring and override capabilities by a human operator.

  5. A unique visible identification number.

  6. Visible QR codes or other quick-access complaint links for public reporting.

• b. Each operator shall ensure PDDs are maintained in a safe condition and provide training for remote operators.

• c. In case of an incident, the operator shall report to the city within twenty-four hours and cooperate with investigations.

• (Ord. 25-29, 12/15/2025)

• a. Evaluation. The city shall evaluate the operator and operating agreement annually, using reports and community feedback, and may adjust terms as needed. Metrics for operator success shall include, but are not limited to, estimated reductions in vehicle delivery trips and associated emissions, merchant participation rates, merchant and customer satisfaction surveys, and accessibility compliance audit results. Annual evaluations shall include aggregated metrics on incident response times, ADA-related complaints, and emissions reductions. These metrics may be published in an annual report for City Council or the

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city's website.

• b. Data Privacy. Operators shall anonymize personal data and comply with applicable privacy laws; the city may use aggregated data for planning purposes.

• (Ord. 25-29, 12/15/2025)

The City Manager is authorized to adopt rules and regulations consistent with and necessary to implement this chapter. Such rules and regulations may include, but are not limited to, ensuring the health and safety of the public, parking and deployment requirements, advertising regulations, response time for service requests, and implementing geofencing. (Ord. 25-29, 12/15/2025)

• a. Violations. It is a violation of this chapter to:

  1. Operate a PDD without first entering into an operating agreement pursuant to Section 11.50.040 of this chapter. Each day that a PDD is being operated in violation of this chapter is a separate violation. Each PDD being operated in violation of this chapter is a separate violation.

  2. Knowingly make a false statement(s) in any operator application.

  3. Operate a PDD after termination of an operating agreement.

  4. Fail to remove PDDs from the public right-of-way upon expiration or termination of an operating agreement.

  5. Use the city's name, logo, or brand without written consent of the City Manager.

  6. Otherwise fail to comply with any provisions of this chapter.

• b. General Penalties. A violation of this chapter is subject to the general penalty provisions of Chapter 1.08 of this code.

• c. Additional Penalties. In addition to the general penalties provided in this section, a violation may result in one or more of the following:

  1. Civil penalties up to five hundred dollars per violation, enforceable through a civil action brought by the City Attorney in a court of competent jurisdiction.

  2. Temporary or permanent disqualification from being eligible to enter into an operating agreement pursuant to this chapter.

  3. For unlawful operation of a PDD without a valid operating agreement, a fine of one thousand dollars per PDD per violation, enforceable as an administrative or civil penalty.

  4. Suspension or termination of the operating agreement.

  5. Impoundment of any PDD operated in violation of this chapter, with the operator being responsible for all associated impoundment, removal, and storage fees.

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City of West Hollywood, CA § 11.50.090

WEST HOLLYWOOD CODE

§ 11.50.090

6. For repeat violations within a twelve-month period, increased civil penalties up to one thousand dollars per violation, enforceable as an administrative or civil penalty.

• d. The City Manager may suspend operations for repeated ADA violations or failure to respond to service requests within required timeframes.

• e. Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided in this section are cumulative and not exclusive. The city may pursue any or all available remedies to enforce this chapter, including recovery of costs incurred in addressing or abating violations, such as PDD removal or storage fees.

• (Ord. 25-29, 12/15/2025)

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City of West Hollywood, CA