City Officials Want a Judge to Declare the Facilities a Public Nuisance; Waymo Disputes the Claim
After negotiations collapsed over complaints tied to autonomous vehicle charging sites, Santa Monica and Waymo are headed for a courtroom showdown in the new year.
The dispute centers on two Waymo facilities that began operating in a Santa Monica neighborhood in January to recharge about 50 of the company’s driverless, battery-electric vehicles used across the greater Los Angeles area. Residents living nearby have complained for months about flashing lights, nighttime traffic, and the high-pitched backup sounds emitted by the vehicles as they enter and exit the lots.
Both sides filed lawsuits in December after failing to resolve the issue through discussions. Santa Monica is asking a judge to declare the charging stations public nuisances and to restrict overnight operations, while Waymo is seeking a ruling that its facilities do not violate nuisance laws.
The city is requesting an injunction that would halt charging operations between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. or impose other measures to reduce nighttime noise and lighting impacts after nearby residents registered complaints with the city.
The City of Santa Monica’s statement said, “Santa Monica supports clean transportation and innovative mobility services, and we worked for months in an attempt to resolve this issue cooperatively. Residents living next to Waymo’s Broadway charging facilities have experienced persistent overnight noise, lighting, and traffic impacts that interfere with sleep, safety, and basic livability.
The City repeatedly proposed targeted operational changes, short of shutting down service, that would have materially reduced those impacts. Waymo refused to take those steps.
While asking the City to delay litigation and continue discussions, Waymo filed its own lawsuit without notice, seeking a court order that would prevent the City from enforcing nuisance protections or requiring further mitigation. That action left the City no responsible alternative but to file its own case to protect our residents and renters.
This is not about opposing Waymo or EV charging. It is about enforcing long-standing nuisance laws that apply to every business when operations substantially interfere with public health, safety, and quality of life. We remain open to early mediation and a prompt resolution.”
Waymo, in a lawsuit filed December 17, rejected the city’s claims and said it has taken multiple steps to address neighborhood concerns. The company said it hired additional staff, rolled out software updates to reduce noise levels and frequency, installed light and sound barriers, and altered vehicle behavior near the sites.
Complaints from residents prompted a petition earlier this year, though Santa Monica officials said in April that some noise oversight falls under state jurisdiction rather than local control.
With competing lawsuits now on file and talks at an impasse, the case is expected to proceed in Los Angeles County Superior Court sometime in 2026, according to reports.
