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PR26-0683 • 2025

Personal Delivery Device Weight Limit Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026

Personal Delivery Device Weight Limit Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Allen
Last action
2026-05-15
Official status
Approved
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how long the emergency amendment will last before it must be renewed or replaced with a permanent law.

Emergency Rule to Increase Weight Limits for Delivery Robots

This emergency rule increases the weight limit for personal delivery devices (PDDs) in Washington, D.C., from 90 pounds to 275 pounds.

What This Bill Does

  • Increases the maximum weight of personal delivery devices (PDDs) from 90 pounds to 275 pounds.
  • Closes a gap in the law between when an old temporary rule expires and a new permanent rule takes effect.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Companies operating personal delivery devices
  • Residents of Washington, D.C., who may see more PDDs on streets

Terms To Know

Personal Delivery Device (PDD)
A robot or automated vehicle used to deliver packages and goods.
Emergency Amendment
A temporary law passed quickly in response to urgent needs.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The rule is only effective until a permanent bill passes, which may be delayed.
  • It does not specify how long the emergency amendment will last before it must be renewed or replaced with a permanent law.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-15 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Resolution R26-0400, Effective from May 05, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 007315

  2. 2026-05-05 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  3. 2026-05-05 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  4. 2026-05-05 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Approved with Resolution Number R26-0400

  5. 2026-05-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    PR26-0683 Introduced by Councilmember Allen at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Personal Delivery Device Weight Limit Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL

1

A RESOLUTION

26-400

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

May 5, 2026

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend the Personal
Delivery Device Act of 2018 to increase the weight limit for personal delivery devices.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Personal Delivery Device Weight Limit Emergency Declaration
Resolution of 2026”.

Sec. 2. (a) The Personal Delivery Device Act of 2018, effective July 17, 2018 (D.C. Law
22-137; D.C. Code § 50-1101.01 et seq.) (“Act”), created a permitting process for eligible
entities to operate personal delivery devices (“PDDs”) that do not exceed 90 pounds in weight.
(b) Since the adoption of the Act, several companies have developed new PDD models
that exceed the existing weight limit. The weight limit adopted seven years ago now presents a
barrier to the introduction and use of newer PPD models, some of which with enhanced hardware
features.
(c) Many states already allow for the operating of PDDs exceeding 90 pounds in weight.
At least 12 states allow PDDs to exceed 500 pounds in weight, and another 7 states that allow for
PDD operations have not established a weight limit in statute.
(d) On May 6, 2025, Councilmembers Charles Allen, Zachary Parker, and Christina
Henderson introduced the Personal Delivery Device Weight Limit Amendment Act of 2025, as
introduced on May 6, 2026 (Bill 26-245) (“permanent bill”). The permanent bill would allow the
operation of PDDs weighing up to 275 pounds. The Committee on Transportation and the
Environment held a hearing on the bill on October 16, 2025.
(e) To allow for the deployment of PDDs that exceed the current weight limit, the
Council passed the Personal Delivery Device Weight Limit Emergency Amendment Act of 2025,
effective August 12, 2025 (D.C. Act 26-125; 72 DCR 8603) (“emergency act”). The Council also
passed the Personal Delivery Device Weight Limit Temporary Amendment Act of 2025, effective
October 1, 2025 (D.C. Law 26-48; 72 DCR 8945) (“temporary law”). The emergency act expired
on November 10, 2025. The temporary law is set to expire on May 14, 2026.
(f) A new round of emergency and temporary legislation is needed to prevent a gap in the
law between the expiration of the temporary law and the passage of the permanent bill.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL

2

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia finds the circumstances enumerated in
section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Personal Delivery
Device Weight Limit Emergency Amendment Act of 2026 be adopted after a single reading.

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.