SF Scooter Permits May Extend Through 2028
San Francisco transit board to review extending electric scooter permits through 2028
SFMTA Weighs Scooter Permit Extensions to 2028
San Francisco's transit board will consider extending electric scooter permits by up to two years at a public hearing Tuesday. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors scheduled the hearing for May 5, 2026, at 1:00pm to review proposed changes to the city's Powered Scooter Share Permit Program, officials said. The legislation would allow current scooter operators to continue service through June 30, 2028.
Context & Background
The proposed amendment would modify Transportation Code Division II, Section 916, which currently governs scooter-sharing requirements in San Francisco. Under existing rules, the Director of Transportation can issue permits for up to two years, according to Section 916(a)(2). The legislation would suspend that two-year limit temporarily, giving the director authority to extend current permits without requiring operators to go through a new application process. Transit officials said the change aims to provide continuity for the shared mobility program while the agency evaluates long-term regulations.
Key Details
The proposal specifically targets Section 916(a)(2) of the city's transportation code, which sets the current two-year maximum for scooter permits. If approved, the Director of Transportation could grant extensions adding up to two additional years to existing permits, potentially keeping current operators in place until June 30, 2028. Officials didn't specify how many scooter companies currently hold permits or how many scooters operate in San Francisco under the program. The public hearing notice was effective from April 25, 2026, through the May 5 meeting date.
Timeline & Implementation
The SFMTA Board will hear public testimony on the proposed legislation at its May 5, 2026, meeting beginning at 1:00pm. Officials invited members of the public to attend the hearing and provide input on the permit extension proposal. The board didn't announce when it expects to vote on the legislation or when any approved extensions would take effect. If the amendment passes, permit extensions could be issued at the Director of Transportation's discretion rather than following a set timeline.
Rider Impact & Moovit
The permit extensions would affect riders who use shared electric scooters as part of their daily commutes or for first-mile and last-mile connections to transit. Officials said maintaining current operators through 2028 would provide service continuity, though they didn't detail how the extensions might affect scooter availability, pricing, or service areas. Riders can track San Francisco transit connections and multimodal options, including scooter locations, through Moovit's real-time planning tools.
