St. Petersburg, FL – St. Petersburg officials are examining whether autonomous robots could provide food deliveries in busy areas where parking and traffic create challenges.
The City Council unanimously agreed Thursday to send the proposal for additional review by the Public Services and Infrastructure Committee or another appropriate committee.
Council member Deborah Figgs-Sanders introduced the proposal after encountering an autonomous delivery service while traveling. She asked the city to consider ways to encourage the technology while creating local operating regulations.
The electric robots travel primarily on sidewalks and carry restaurant orders in secured compartments. Cameras, sensors and navigation software help the devices follow mapped routes, identify obstacles and cross streets.
The council’s action does not authorize a pilot program or permit a company to begin operating in St. Petersburg. No delivery provider, restaurant partner, operating area or launch date has been selected.
Those details could be addressed during future committee meetings. Council members may also review operating hours, speed limits, insurance requirements, pedestrian safety, sidewalk access and procedures for disabled robots.
Florida law permits personal delivery devices to operate on sidewalks and within crosswalks. Municipal and county governments may adopt additional rules governing their operation.
Similar delivery services already operate elsewhere in Florida. Coco Robotics and DoorDash expanded autonomous deliveries into Miami in November 2025. Serve Robotics introduced robots for Uber Eats customers in downtown Fort Lauderdale and along Las Olas Boulevard the following month.
St. Petersburg officials have not established a timeline for completing the committee review or deciding whether to authorize autonomous food delivery services.