County OKs expansion of UNLV food delivery robots off campus

The Clark County Commission voted Tuesday to expand the range personal delivery robots at UNLV may operate in to include nearby public sidewalks.

The white pod robots from Starship Technologies and Grubhub may now deliver food from on-campus establishments to students living in nearby off-campus housing. The robots were previously restricted to university property.

Because of construction on Maryland Parkway, however, the robots will not be seen on county sidewalks until 2026, officials said.

The vote will “provide us with more safe and accessible food options for students,” said Constance Brooks, vice president of government and community relations at UNLV.

UNLV did not indicate whether the new rules would open the door to deliveries from off-campus restaurants.

The vote was unanimous, minus Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick, who was absent.

The Nevada Legislature last year gave local governments the power to regulate the time, place and manner of operation of such personal delivery devices and to establish standards for their safe operation.

The ordinance passed Tuesday allows the devices to carry food and nonalcoholic beverages to students and staff. It will save customers from having to walk across Maryland Parkway on hot days or at night to get food, which was a safety concern.

The county must still define the permissible operating area for the robots. Housing complexes surrounding the UNLV campus, such as TheYou, Echo 1055 and U-District, are likely to be included in the expanding operating zone.

The ordinance restricts the number of robots operated by a single company to 50 at any Nevada System of Higher Education institution, and the devices may not exceed 5 mph.

They are also prohibited from sidewalks where space limitations would hinder people with mobility issues.

UNLV officials said the robots offer more than convenience. They also provide access to food for students with mobility challenges and are a safer option for dining late at night, they said.

Since 2022, the robots have made more than 3,300 deliveries at UNLV and covered more than 4,000 miles, said Keith Rogers, vice president for student affairs.

To deliver off campus, robot operators must have a county business license and pay a semiannual fee based on their gross revenue.

The ordinance requires companies to respond within 30 minutes to remove robots that break down on the sidewalk, the ordinance said. Liability insurance for at least $500,000 is also required.

Erin Breen, director of the Road Equity Alliance Project, said she supports new technology, but “a device that isn’t operated by someone that is right there makes me very nervous.”

She said it was important that any ordinance “protect every sidewalk user.”