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El Dorado County, CA Mobility & Curb Rules: E-Bike Classes (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Governing sections
County Code Sections 10.32.020, 10.32.030(D)
Exempt classes
Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes only
Not exempt
Class 3 e-bikes treated as motorized vehicles
First offense fine
Up to $25.00
Repeat offense fines
Up to $100, then up to $250
Covered trails
Class 1, natural, horseback trails plus SPTC

Summary

El Dorado County treats Class 1 and Class 2 electric bicycles as regular bikes on its trail facilities, exempting them from the ban on motorized vehicles under Section 10.32.030(D), while every other motorized vehicle, including a Class 3 e-bike, stays barred under Section 10.32.020. The ban covers every County-owned Class 1 trail, natural trail, horseback trail and the local Sacramento Placerville Transportation Corridor segment.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of El Dorado County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Sec. 10.32.020. - Prohibited conduct. No person shall operate or cause to be operated a motorized vehicle within the boundaries of a trail facility. (Ord. No. 5038, § 1, 6-7-2016)

Sec. 10.32.030. - Exemptions. This chapter does not apply to the following: ...D.Electric bicycles—Class 1 and 2 (Vehicle Code § 312.5). (Ord. No. 5038, § 1, 6-7-2016)

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13 Update 4).

Full Breakdown

5," and separately defines "motorized vehicle" to include motorized bicycles and mopeds, motorized scooters, electric personal assistive mobility devices, ATVs, dirt bikes and other self-propelled devices. 020 bans operating a motorized vehicle within the boundaries of a trail facility outright. 5; Class 3 e-bikes, motorized quadricycles used outside the ADA and senior-citizen exemption in item C, and every other motorized conveyance are not on that list and remain barred as motorized vehicles. 080 requires the County to post appropriate signage indicating that motorized vehicles are prohibited at every trail entrance and exit, though the same section makes clear that missing signage is not a defense to a citation. 040.

Violations & Fines

Riding a Class 3 e-bike, or any other motorized vehicle, on a County trail facility is an infraction under Section 10.32.060, fined up to $25.00 for a first offense, up to $100.00 for a second offense within a year, and up to $250.00 for each additional offense within that year. A vehicle left on a non-motorized trail can also be towed at the owner's expense under Section 10.32.040, on top of any fine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I ride a Class 3 e-bike on El Dorado County trails?
Not on County trail facilities covered by Chapter 10.32. Section 10.32.030(D) exempts only Class 1 and Class 2 electric bicycles from the motorized-vehicle ban in Section 10.32.020, so a Class 3 e-bike is treated the same as any other motorized vehicle and is prohibited.
What trails does the e-bike restriction cover?
Section 10.32.010 defines trail facility to include any Class 1 trail, natural trail, or horseback riding trail that El Dorado County owns, maintains, or operates, plus the County's portion of the Sacramento Placerville Transportation Corridor, so the Class 1/2 exemption and the ban on everything else follow all of those trails.
What's the fine for riding a prohibited e-bike class on a County trail?
Section 10.32.060 sets a graduated infraction fine: up to $25 for a first offense, up to $100 for a second offense within a year, and up to $250 for each further offense within that same year, and the County can also tow an abandoned vehicle under Section 10.32.040.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in El Dorado County

All El Dorado County rules

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