Mobility & Curb Rules in Santa Cruz County, CA (2026)

3 rules for unincorporated Santa Cruz County, California.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Shared E-Scooter Rules

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County bars riding a motorized scooter, e-bike, moped, or similar device on any sidewalk unless that sidewalk is also a bikeway, and bars riding on a bikeway unless it sits within or next to a roadway, under SCCC § 9.54.030. Narrow exceptions apply where no pedestrians are present or the County has posted signage authorizing sidewalk use.

Santa Cruz County Motorized Scooter Ride Rules

Some Restrictions

SCCC § 9.54.030(B) (Ord. 5451 § 2, 2024)

Except as provided in SCCC § 9.54.040, the following restrictions shall apply to the operation of electric bicycles, motorized bicycles, mopeds, motorized scooters, and similar devices: (1) No person shall operate an electric bicycle, motorized bicycle, moped, motorized scooter, or similar vehicle on any sidewalk within the County's jurisdiction, unless that sidewalk is also a bikeway. (2) No p...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Bike Lane Rules

Unincorporated Santa Cruz County bans parking in the striped buffer of a marked bicycle lane under SCCC § 9.36.060. Once curb markings or signs are posted, no motor vehicle may stop, stand, or park between the curb and the line that marks a Board-established bike lane, and violations run through the same civil penalty track as other Chapter 9.36 parking rules.

Santa Cruz County Bike Lane Parking Ban

Some Restrictions

SCCC § 9.36.060 (prior code § 10.60.033; Ord. 2212, 1975)

When authorized curb markings or signs are in place giving notice of no parking, no operator of any motor vehicle shall stop, stand or park such vehicle upon the area of any street between the curb and any line delineating the boundary of a bicycle lane established by resolution of the Board as a no-parking zone.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

TNC Pickup Zones

Santa Cruz County does not set citywide TNC pickup zones, but its Transportation Demand Management ordinance requires large nonresidential and mixed-use developments to provide on-site preferred parking for ridesharing vehicles plus a designated curbside loading and unloading area.

Santa Cruz County Rideshare Pickup Area Rules

Light Restrictions

SCCC § 13.16.200(C)(1)(f) (Ord. 5425, 2022)

(C) The following requirements apply to nonresidential land uses inclusive of mixed-use with more than 50 employees: (1) Applicants shall participate in a travel behavior change program that includes the following components: ... (f) On-site preferred parking for ridesharing vehicles and a designated curbside loading and unloading area. (2) All of the requirements in subsection (C)(1) of this s...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Santa Cruz County ordinances

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