Boston robotaxi rules
Massachusetts has no law for driverless operation, and the Boston City Council has been weighing an ordinance that could require a human safety operator. Either one would keep a robotaxi service out of the city. Both points come from news reports, not from city or state sources.
Updated . By the Robotaxi Atlas desk.
The state gap
No Massachusetts framework allows driverless vehicles to carry passengers. A bill, H.3634, is pending in the legislature. In February 2026, Boston.com ran the headline "Massachusetts law isn't ready."
The city ordinance
The council heard an ordinance on autonomous vehicles in July 2025 and again in Oct 2025. TLI Magazine described it as union-backed, and reports say it could require human safety operators in the vehicles. No vote on it has been found.
One view quoted by TLI Magazine was that the measure "could become a playbook for other cities." Minneapolis later passed a similar safety-monitor ordinance, covered in the Minneapolis rules.
Waymo in Boston
The Boston Globe reported that Waymo said on Feb 5, 2026 it was returning to Boston for manual testing. People drive its cars while they map streets. Waymo lists Boston as Up Next with no launch date, and the Boston page shows it as testing.
Cities affected
- Boston Testing
Sources
- Boston.com: Waymo wants to expand into Boston. Massachusetts law isn't ready.
- TLI Magazine: Boston pushes back on Waymo as driverless taxi debate heats up
Some points on this page are reported by news outlets and not yet confirmed by an official source.
Questions people ask
Can you ride a Waymo in Boston?
Waymo is testing manually in Boston and has no public service or launch date. Massachusetts law does not allow driverless passenger rides.
Did Boston pass a robotaxi ordinance?
No vote on Boston's proposed autonomous vehicle ordinance has been found. News reports say the city council heard it in July 2025 and Oct 2025.
What is Massachusetts bill H.3634?
H.3634 is a pending Massachusetts bill on autonomous vehicles. Reporting from Feb 2026 said the state still had no framework for driverless operation.