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3w ago

Boston Enacts Permit Rules for Major Food-Delivery Platforms

The city is using permits and data reporting to curb delivery-related crashes.

A food delivery driver waits for an order at Copley Square in Boston. 
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Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Ashley Groffenberger, the city of Boston's chief financial officer, discuss Wu's proposed $4.9 billion spending plan for the 2027 fiscal year at the annual Budget Breakfast on April 8, 2026. David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty

Overview

  • The ordinance is now in effect and requires any third-party food-delivery company with more than 1,000,000 annual orders to obtain a city permit.
  • Platforms must register with the Boston Transportation Department, carry insurance that covers crashes, and submit trip data to help manage safety and congestion.
  • Noncompliance carries fines of $300 per restaurant per day or $300 per order for operating without a permit.
  • The rules exempt small local businesses and services run by FedEx, UPS, Amazon, and grocery-focused companies such as Instacart.
  • City officials cite a 200% rise in delivery-vehicle 311 complaints since 2022 and 525 scooter crash reports in 2025, and the City Council is weighing moped and scooter limits as police warn enforcement would be difficult.