Waymo Came to Manhattan Beach on a State Permit, and LAX Is Still Off the Map

"Waymo's expansion was not initiated or approved by the City of Manhattan Beach."

That line comes from the City of Manhattan Beach's November 6 notice. The City posted it three days after Waymo's driverless cars started service on local streets, and it sets out how decisions about Manhattan Beach's newest way to get around are divided. State regulators approved the expansion, the City enforces the rules of its own streets, and where a rider can actually go is answered in Waymo's app rather than on any city map.

The decision was made in Sacramento

On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Waymo extended its Los Angeles service into the South Bay. The Los Angeles Times reported that riders could now travel to Torrance, El Segundo and Manhattan Beach, and that the expansion brought the company's Los Angeles service area to 210 square miles. The City's notice also lists Lawndale among the new communities.

The City's explanation for why it had no say is short. According to its notice, autonomous vehicle operations in California are authorized and regulated mainly by two state agencies, the California Public Utilities Commission and the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Individual cities, Manhattan Beach included, "generally do not have the authority to prohibit state-authorized autonomous vehicles from operating on public streets within their jurisdictions."

For this expansion specifically, Los Angeles Magazine reported that Waymo received approval from the CPUC in August.

Waymo describes the regulatory setup the same way the City does. When Patch covered the Torrance launch, the company said the DMV and the CPUC regulate its operations at the state level and that it keeps coordinating with municipal officials and emergency responders.

Here is how the responsibilities divide for a Manhattan Beach resident:

What the City kept is the street itself

The City didn't get a vote on whether the cars come, but it holds on to everything that happens once they're here. Its notice says autonomous vehicles "must follow the same applicable traffic and parking laws as other passenger vehicles and are subject to enforcement." A Waymo that double-parks on Manhattan Beach Boulevard is in the same position as any other car that double-parks there.

The City also prepared its first responders before most residents had seen a car. According to the notice, Manhattan Beach Police and Fire Department personnel have been trained to interact with Waymo vehicles safely. That includes how to secure, disable or move a vehicle after a traffic collision or when one becomes immobilized. Waymo provides 24/7 incident response support to first responders as well.

That preparation comes on top of a larger regional effort. Waymo told Patch it has trained more than 6,500 first responders across Greater Los Angeles since 2022, with more specialized sessions planned in the region through 2027.

The groundwork in the South Bay also started well before launch day. Torrance Communications Manager Corbin Carson told Patch that "Waymo has been testing vehicles locally with trained drivers behind the wheel to familiarize its technology with Torrance roadways, traffic patterns, and neighborhoods." Carson also said Torrance Mayor Sharon Kalani had recently spoken with Waymo's Government Affairs team about the technology and what residents could expect.

Where you can ride is set by the app, not city limits

City names in a press release don't tell you whether a particular trip works. When NBC Los Angeles covered the rollout on October 28, it described Waymo's updated service map as "extending through Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach to Torrance." That's a route down the coast, not a list of every block in every city.

For Manhattan Beach, the practical step is the same one Patch pointed Torrance residents to. Enter your pickup and drop-off addresses in the Waymo app, and it shows whether the trip is covered.

The South Bay addition came with new destinations elsewhere in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Times reported that Waymo added high-demand spots including Universal Studios and the Beverly Hills Hotel in the same update. Waymo has offered fully autonomous rides in Los Angeles since 2024. In May 2026 it launched its next-generation vehicle, the Ojai, which the Times described as cheaper to deploy and better equipped for extreme weather.

Freeways have their own limits. Waymo's freeway routes help page says freeway access is currently limited, so not every rider can take freeway trips yet. Riders without access can join an interest list in the app. Even riders who have access won't always get a freeway route, and the app shows the route and estimated drop-off time before you hail.

The trip residents want most depends on a train at LAX

Manhattan Beach sits a short drive from Los Angeles International Airport, and that's the trip Waymo can't take you on. The Los Angeles Times reported that even after the expansion, riders "still won't be able to call a ride to or from Los Angeles International Airport." Waymo's own Los Angeles page says the same.

The Times reported that Waymo is in discussions with airport officials about serving riders at LAX. It also reported that last year, a Los Angeles World Airports representative said LAX would move to integrate Waymo once the automated Skylink people mover is finished. Skylink has been delayed since 2023, and as of the Times' November 3 report it would open in February at the earliest.

So the airport question is outside the City's control and has more to do with LAX than with Waymo. Waymo cars can now reach Manhattan Beach, but the next step toward airport service depends on when a train opens at LAX.

Before the first ride from home

For anyone in Manhattan Beach who wants to try the service this season, these steps follow directly from the company's published guidance:

1. Download the Waymo app. Waymo's Los Angeles page says "anyone in Los Angeles can take a ride today" and doesn't mention a waitlist.
2. Enter your real pickup and drop-off addresses to confirm the trip is covered, rather than assuming from a city name.
3. Preview the route and estimated drop-off time before hailing, and join the freeway interest list if longer trips matter to you.
4. For airport trips, plan on another option until Waymo and LAX announce otherwise.
5. For questions about the cars on Manhattan Beach streets, the City points residents to Waymo's safety information, the CPUC and the DMV.

This post reports on how autonomous vehicles are regulated in California and is general information only. It is not legal advice, so anyone with a specific question should check with the agencies listed above or an appropriate professional.

How people get to and from Manhattan Beach shapes daily routines, and over time it shapes what buyers look for in a home here. At The Zebrowski Group, we follow changes like this block by block. If you're curious how your home is positioned as the South Bay changes, request a private market valuation and we'll walk you through it.