Local News
A Boston city ordinance that went into effect on Saturday aims to bring a little order to the city’s chaotic streets.
A food delivery driver waits for an order at Copley Square in Boston. (Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff)
Under new rules that took effect Saturday, Boston is now requiring third-party restaurant delivery companies like Uber Eats, Grubhub, and DoorDash to obtain new permits to improve pedestrian safety.
The ordinance, initially filed by Mayor Michelle Wu and passed by the City Council last April, comes amid growing concerns about reckless driving, illegal parking, and increased traffic congestion.
According to the city’s website, the number of vehicles used for food delivery has increased rapidly, mostly small motorcycles or mopeds. Full-size vehicles create congestion while double-parking, while two-wheeled vehicles often operate unsafely and ignore the rules of the road.
“This has created a chaotic, unsafe feeling among residents when traveling,” the website read. Since 2022, 311 delivery-vehicle reports have increased by 200%.
Under the ordinance, all third-party food delivery companies that place more than 1,000,000 orders annually must now register with the city’s transportation department.
The companies will also need insurance coverage to protect those involved in crashes with delivery drivers, and to submit data to the transportation department to facilitate safety and congestion management.
The ordinance excludes small businesses with a small number of delivery drivers, as well as those operated by FedEx, UPS, or Amazon. It also excludes grocery delivery companies, such as Instacart.
If a provider fails to obtain a permit, they will be fined $300 per restaurant daily or $300 per order.
Uber Eats, Grubhub, and DoorDash did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Potential ban of mopeds & scooters
Despite the ordinance just going into effect, City Councilors are still discussing ways to sharpen it.
A hearing held last week weighed whether to ban mopeds and scooters.
While Boston is the first city in the country to enact an ordinance like this, Councilor Sharon Durkan, who chairs the Boston City Council Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation, believes an outright ban on mopeds may be premature. Durkan would like to see the current law in effect longer before any more changes are made.
Still, Durkan said, “We know that these companies are wreaking havoc on our streets, and we have to provide balance.”
The Boston Police told the councilors that in 2025, 525 crash reports involved scooters. But according to BPD, it would be difficult to enact separate enforcement to target food delivery drivers on mopeds and scooters versus everyday users.
Councilor Ed Flynn also expressed skepticism about enforcement.
“It’s unrealistic to expect Boston Police to consistently enforce all of the hundreds of mopeds every day with its staffing levels and overstretched resources,” Flynn said.
Beth Treffeisen is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on local news, crime, and business in the New England region.
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