Minneapolis robotaxi rules
On Oct 1, 2026, the Minneapolis City Council voted 7-6 for an ordinance requiring a licensed human safety monitor in every robotaxi from October 2027. Alpha News reported that Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed it the next day.
Updated . By the Robotaxi Atlas desk.
Workers Drive Minneapolis
Named Workers Drive Minneapolis, the ordinance would put a licensed human safety monitor aboard robotaxis in the city from Oct 2027. CBS Minnesota's report carries the description "a de facto ban on autonomous vehicles." KSTP quoted the line "Requiring a driver in a driverless car doesn't make sense."
KSTP and CBS Minnesota both reported its passage on Oct 1, 2026.
The veto and the override math
According to Alpha News, the mayor vetoed the ordinance on Oct 2, 2026. The council needs 9 votes to override a veto. With the original vote at 7-6, more members would have to back it.
The Spokesman-Recorder described the ordinance on Oct 8, 2026 as not passed. That conflicts with the other reports, which give the vote count and date. This page follows the more specific reports and will be updated if the record changes.
Who it would affect
In Minneapolis, Waymo is mapping and testing with drivers at the controls and has no public service. May Mobility already operates elsewhere in Minnesota with a human on board, because state law requires a licensed driver. See Eden Prairie and Grand Rapids.
Cities affected
- Minneapolis Testing
Questions people ask
Did Minneapolis ban robotaxis?
The city did not ban robotaxis outright. The council passed an ordinance 7-6 on Oct 1, 2026 that would require a licensed human safety monitor in robotaxis from October 2027, and the mayor reportedly vetoed it on Oct 2, 2026.
How many votes does Minneapolis need to override the robotaxi veto?
Overriding the mayor's veto takes 9 council votes. The ordinance originally passed 7-6.
Is Waymo operating in Minneapolis?
Waymo is mapping and testing in Minneapolis with drivers at the controls. There are no public rides and no launch date.