Can you ride an electric skateboard on the sidewalk?
Usually the state does not say — your city does. Of the 63 US states and Canadian provinces and territories we read, only 2 open the sidewalk in writing (Michigan and Virginia, with pedestrians first), and 5 close it to electric skateboards (Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Alberta and Ontario (City of Toronto)). 3 more close it to “vehicles” without saying a board is one. The rest say less or nothing; every one is in the tables below.
Every state and province whose law speaks to the sidewalk
| Jurisdiction | What it means | What the text says |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Open, with conditions | On the sidewalk, pedestrians first. “A person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device or electric skateboard on a sidewalk constructed for the use of pedestrians shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing the pedestrian.” The statute regulates sidewalk riding rather than banning it — but see the local powers below. — MCL 257.660(1), (3)–(6), (11)–(15), read 2026-09-24 Your town can say more — or say no. Counties, cities, villages and townships “may, by ordinance based on the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens, regulate the operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric skateboards, or commercial quadricycles on sidewalks, highways or streets, or crosswalks”, and may prohibit them “in a downtown or central business district”, on waterfronts and trails, and on streets with streetcar tracks, with signs posted. By statute, “Operation of an electric personal assistive mobility device or electric skateboard is prohibited in a special charter city and a state park under the jurisdiction of the Mackinac Island State Park commission.” — MCL 257.660(1), (3)–(6), (11)–(15), read 2026-09-24 |
| Virginia | Open, with conditions | Sidewalks and paths are open by default. The statute assumes you may be there and regulates how: a rider on a sidewalk, shared-use path, or crosswalk “shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian”, and “shall have all the rights and duties of a pedestrian under the same circumstances”. — Va. Code § 46.2-904, read 2026-09-21 ⚠ Unless your town closed it. A county, city or town “may by ordinance prohibit … the riding of … motorized skateboards or scooters … on designated sidewalks or crosswalks, including those of any church, school, recreational facility, or any business property open to the public”. Where it does, “signs indicating such prohibition shall be posted”. So the permission is real, and it is local — look for the sign. — Va. Code § 46.2-904, read 2026-09-21 Where a traffic control device says no. You may not ride on a sidewalk or across a crosswalk “where such use … is prohibited by official traffic control devices”, and you may not park a motorized skateboard or scooter “in a manner that impedes the normal movement of pedestrian or other traffic”. — Va. Code § 46.2-904, read 2026-09-21 |
| California | Named, with a speed cap | Speed limit. Not above 15 mph on a highway, bikeway, public bicycle path, sidewalk or trail. — Cal. Veh. Code § 21294, read 2026-09-20 |
| Delaware | Closed to electric skateboards | Road, street, sidewalk — all closed. “Motorized skateboards or scooters shall not be operated upon a public highway or street or sidewalk or right-of-way thereof located within this State.” Delaware closes the sidewalk explicitly, where Michigan and Virginia leave it open. — 21 Del. C. § 4198N, read 2026-09-23 |
| New Jersey | Closed to electric skateboards | ⚠ Off streets, highways and sidewalks. “No person, except for an operator with a mobility-related disability, as authorized by section 2 of P.L.2007, c. 21 (C.39:4-14.15), shall operate a motorized scooter upon any public street, highway or sidewalk.” — N.J.S.A. 39:4-14.12, read 2026-09-24 |
| Pennsylvania | Closed to electric skateboards | And the sidewalk is closed too. “No person shall drive any vehicle except a human-powered vehicle upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area except upon a permanent or duly authorized temporary driveway.” The section excepts mobility devices for people with disabilities and, unless a municipality forbids it, the EPAMD — neither reaches a skateboard. — 75 Pa.C.S. § 3703, read 2026-09-20 |
| Alberta | Closed to electric skateboards | What the province says that means. These devices “are motor vehicles, as defined in the Traffic Safety Act; however, they also meet the definition of ‘miniature vehicles’ which are not permitted on a highway in Alberta, including sidewalks alongside the roadway.” They “may only be operated on private property.” — Alberta Transportation — Rules & Regulations Applying to Small Vehicles, read 2026-09-20 You are not a pedestrian on one. “While many of these motorized vehicles will be used in a pedestrian-like manner, the operators of these vehicles do not meet the legal definition of ‘pedestrian’.” A pedestrian is “a person on foot” or a person in or on a mobility aid. The sidewalk is therefore not an alternative. — Alberta Transportation — Rules & Regulations Applying to Small Vehicles, read 2026-09-20 |
| Ontario (City of Toronto) | Closed to electric skateboards | On sidewalks. Not allowed. — City of Toronto — Other Micromobility Devices, read 2026-09-20 |
| Alaska | Closed to “vehicles” — the text does not say a board is one | Sidewalks are closed to vehicles. The state rules of the road say: “No person may drive a vehicle on a sidewalk or sidewalk area other than upon a permanent or temporary driveway, except as a municipality allows the riding of bicycles on sidewalks outside of a business district.” — 13 AAC 02.395(e), 13 AAC 02.487, read 2026-09-24 |
| Hawaii | Closed to “vehicles” — the text does not say a board is one | No vehicle on the sidewalk. “Except as provided in subsection (b), no person shall drive any vehicle upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area except upon a permanent or authorized temporary driveway.” Subsection (b) opens the sidewalk to bicycles only. — HRS § 291C-148, read 2026-09-24 |
| Yukon | Closed to “vehicles” — the text does not say a board is one | Sidewalks. “Except as may be provided for by a municipal bylaw pursuant to section 126, no person shall drive any vehicle into, across, or along any boulevard, ditch, or sidewalk except at proper and lawful vehicular crossings provided therefor.” — Motor Vehicles Act, RSY 2002, c 153, ss 1, 39(1), 145, read 2026-09-24 |
| Northwest Territories | Unpowered skateboards sent to the sidewalk — motors not addressed | ⚠ The skateboard is named — the motor is not. Under the heading “Duties of person riding play vehicle”: “No person shall ride on or use a sled, skateboard, ice skates, in-line skates or skis on a roadway (a) if there is a sidewalk adjacent to the roadway that is usable”. The Act never defines “skateboard” and never says whether a powered one is still a play vehicle. We do not read it either way. — Motor Vehicles Act, RSNWT 1988, c M-16, ss 1, 5, 66(1), 247, 347(1), read 2026-09-24 |
| Nunavut | Unpowered skateboards sent to the sidewalk — motors not addressed | ⚠ The skateboard is a play vehicle — with no word on motors. “No person shall ride on or use a coaster, sled, toboggan, skateboard, ice skates, roller skates or skis on a roadway (a) if there is a sidewalk adjacent to the roadway that is usable”. The section is headed “Duties of person riding play vehicle” and says nothing about power. — Traffic Safety Act, RSNWT (Nu) 1988, c M-16, ss 1, 5, 66(1), 247, 347(1)(v), read 2026-09-24 |
| Florida | Left to your city or county | What applies instead. Florida law expressly leaves local governments free to adopt ordinances governing these devices on streets, sidewalks and sidewalk areas within their jurisdiction. In practice that is where the rule you are subject to will be found. — Fla. Stat. § 316.003, read 2026-09-20 |
Every row is quoted from the full reading of that jurisdiction — same words, same section, same date.
The other 49: no text we read mentions the sidewalk
For these, the status below is the general one for electric skateboards. It is where the sidewalk question starts; the answer is in your city's code.
| Jurisdiction | General status for electric skateboards |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Unaddressed |
| Arizona | Named only |
| Arkansas | Unaddressed |
| Colorado | Prohibited |
| Connecticut | Prohibited |
| Georgia | Unaddressed |
| Idaho | Unaddressed |
| Illinois | Prohibited |
| Indiana | Unaddressed |
| Iowa | Regulated |
| Kansas | Unaddressed |
| Kentucky | Unaddressed |
| Louisiana | Unaddressed |
| Maine | Prohibited |
| Maryland | Unaddressed |
| Massachusetts | Unaddressed |
| Minnesota | Unaddressed |
| Mississippi | Unaddressed |
| Missouri | Prohibited |
| Montana | Regulated |
| Nebraska | Unaddressed |
| Nevada | Unaddressed |
| New Hampshire | Prohibited |
| New Mexico | Unaddressed |
| New York | Prohibited |
| North Carolina | Prohibited |
| North Dakota | Prohibited |
| Ohio | Unaddressed |
| Oklahoma | Unaddressed |
| Oregon | Unaddressed |
| Rhode Island | Prohibited |
| South Carolina | Unaddressed |
| South Dakota | Unaddressed |
| Tennessee | Unaddressed |
| Texas | Unaddressed |
| Utah | Regulated |
| Vermont | Prohibited |
| Washington | Unaddressed |
| West Virginia | Prohibited |
| Wisconsin | Unaddressed |
| Wyoming | Named only |
| British Columbia | Prohibited |
| Manitoba | Prohibited |
| New Brunswick | Prohibited |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Prohibited |
| Nova Scotia | Prohibited |
| Prince Edward Island | Prohibited |
| Quebec | Regulated |
| Saskatchewan | Prohibited |
What this page does not tell you
This is a reading of state and provincial texts, not legal advice. City codes sit on top of everything here — and on sidewalks and paths, they are usually the rule that actually applies. Each row links to the full reading of its jurisdiction, with every source and the day we read it.
Questions this raises
Is it legal to ride an electric skateboard on the sidewalk?
In Michigan and Virginia, yes, if you yield to pedestrians and signal before passing — and your town can still close it. In Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Alberta and Ontario (City of Toronto), no. In most other states and provinces we read, no state text speaks to it, and the answer is in your city's code.
Which states ban electric skateboards on sidewalks?
Delaware (“public highway or street or sidewalk”), New Jersey (“any public street, highway or sidewalk”) and Pennsylvania (no vehicle except a human-powered one). In Canada, Alberta says miniature vehicles are not permitted on “sidewalks alongside the roadway”, and the City of Toronto says they are not allowed on sidewalks.
Do I have to yield to pedestrians?
Where a state opens the sidewalk, yes. Michigan and Virginia both write that the rider shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing.
Why does the state not decide?
Because sidewalks are local. Florida says so outright: its law leaves local governments free to regulate these devices on streets, sidewalks and sidewalk areas. That is where most of the real rules live.
Is an electric skateboard a “vehicle” on the sidewalk?
Alaska, Hawaii and Yukon close the sidewalk to any vehicle, but none of the texts we read in those places says whether an electric skateboard is one. We do not decide it for them.