Dubuque, IA Mobility & Curb Rules: E-Bike Classes (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Dubuque City Code § 9-1-321.1
- Class 1 cutoff
- Pedal-assist motor stops at 20 mph
- Class 2 cutoff
- Motor propels alone up to 20 mph
- Class 3 cutoff
- Pedal-assist motor stops at 28 mph
- Motor limit
- Under 750 watts for every class
- Legal status
- Counted as a bicycle, not a motorcycle
- Default fine
- $15.00 scheduled violation, § 7-7-38
Summary
Dubuque City Code classifies low-speed electric bicycles as bicycles, not motorcycles, splitting them into three classes by motor assist and top speed. Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes cut off motor assist at 20 mph, Class 3 at 28 mph, and every class carries a motor under 750 watts. Because e-bikes count as bicycles, riders face no license, registration, or insurance mandate tied to the class itself.
BICYCLE: A. A device having two (2) or three (3) wheels and having at least one (1) saddle or seat for the use of a rider which is propelled by human power; or B. A low-speed electric bicycle. ... LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC BICYCLE: A device having a saddle or seat for the use of a rider, two (2) or three (3) wheels equipped with fully operable pedals, and an electric motor of less than seven hundred fifty (750) watts that meets the requirements of one of the following classes: Class 1 low-speed electric bicycle: A low-speed electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used to provide assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of twenty (20) miles per hour or more. Class 2 low-speed electric bicycle: A low-speed electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of twenty (20) miles per hour or more. Class 3 low-speed electric bicycle: A low-speed electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used to provide assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of twenty-eight (28) miles per hour or more.
Full Breakdown
The Dubuque City Code defines LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC BICYCLE as a two- or three-wheeled device with operable pedals and a motor under 750 watts, then splits it into three classes under section 9-1-321.1: Class 1 assists only while pedaling and cuts off at 20 mph, Class 2 can propel the bike without pedaling but also cuts off at 20 mph, and Class 3 assists only while pedaling up to 28 mph. The same section folds "a low-speed electric bicycle" directly into the definition of BICYCLE, and separately excludes low-speed electric bicycles from the definitions of MOTORCYCLE and MOTORIZED BICYCLE OR MOTOR BICYCLE.
That placement matters for riders: because an e-bike of any class is legally a bicycle rather than a motor vehicle, it carries none of the license, title, or insurance requirements the code imposes on motorcycles and motorized bicycles under title 9. It also means Dubuque's bicycle chapter, City Code title 7, chapter 7, applies to e-bikes exactly as it does to pedal bikes: section 7-7-6 requires a front white lamp and rear red light (or reflector) visible from 300 feet when riding between sunset and sunrise on the city's streets, sidewalks, highways, parks, or multi-use trails, bans sirens and whistles, and requires a functional brake.
Section 7-7-1 states the chapter's purpose is to establish regulations governing the operation of bicycles on streets, bike lanes, and sidewalks of the city, regulations that, by the code's own bicycle definition, reach every low-speed electric bicycle class equally. Nothing in the definitions section singles out Class 3's higher 28 mph cutoff for a narrower right to use sidewalks, bike lanes, or multi-use trails than Class 1 or Class 2 receive.
Violations & Fines
Riding a low-speed electric bicycle in violation of the city's bicycle chapter, City Code section 7-7-38, is a scheduled violation under Iowa Code section 805.8A; if that state schedule does not list a fine, Dubuque's own default applies: fifteen dollars ($15.00). Because every e-bike class counts as a bicycle rather than a motorcycle or motorized bicycle, the Dubuque Police Department can enforce ordinary bicycle equipment and street-use rules, such as required lamps and a functional brake, against Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 riders alike, but riders never face the motor vehicle citations, registration checks, or insurance requirements that apply to motorcycles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to ride an e-bike in Dubuque?
What's the difference between Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 e-bikes in Dubuque?
Can I ride any class of e-bike on Dubuque sidewalks and multi-use trails?
What happens if I violate Dubuque's bicycle rules on an e-bike?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dubuque
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