Burlingame residents could eventually hail a driverless Waymo ride without leaving city limits, after state regulators approved the company's expansion into San Mateo County.

The California Public Utilities Commission on Friday, Aug. 14, signed off on Waymo's updated Passenger Safety Plan, giving the Alphabet-owned company the second of two required state clearances to charge passengers for autonomous rides in Burlingame and nine other San Mateo County cities. The approval, signed by Joshua Huneycutt of the CPUC's Consumer Protection and Enforcement Division, covers 18 California counties in all.

Burlingame is among the newly approved cities alongside Brisbane, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Menlo Park, Pacifica, Redwood City, San Mateo, South San Francisco and East Palo Alto, according to the Mercury News.

The decision expands Waymo's legal service territory from roughly 5,843 square miles to about 47,493 square miles statewide, Hoodline reported.

Rides aren't coming soon.

"While Waymo is receiving its permits today, expansion will be gradual and guided by its safety framework," spokesperson Sandy Karp told the Los Angeles Times on Aug. 14. "Waymo's immediate focus is preparing to launch rider-only service in San Diego later this summer and continuing to validate its technology in Sacramento."

Waymo already operates driverless rides on the San Francisco Peninsula and into the Santa Clara Valley, meaning some Burlingame residents may have encountered the vehicles on nearby roads. The company says it provides more than 500,000 autonomous trips per week nationwide.

The CPUC approval covers both Waymo's existing Jaguar I-PACE fleet and its newer purpose-built Ojai vehicle platform. The California DMV had already cleared the same geographic expansion on Nov. 21, 2025; the CPUC sign-off was the final regulatory step needed before commercial passenger service can begin.

Waymo's application drew 29 supportive responses, including one from the San Mateo County Economic Development Association, according to the CPUC disposition letter. Two protests came from the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System and its Taxicab Advisory Committee.

New state rules that took effect July 1 under Assembly Bill 1777 give police officers the authority to issue formal noncompliance notices directly to autonomous vehicle manufacturers for traffic infractions. Companies must notify the DMV within 72 hours and staff 24/7 emergency phone lines with 30-second response times.

No timeline has been announced for when Waymo will begin picking up passengers in Burlingame. The company has not said whether Burlingame Avenue, the Bayshore Highway corridor or El Camino Real would be included in early local routes.