Santa Barbara County, CA Mobility & Curb Rules: E-Bike Classes (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- County Code Sec. 9-1(b)
- Class 1/2 cutoff speed
- 20 mph
- Class 3 cutoff speed
- 28 mph
- Local catch-all
- Class 4: other motorized bicycles
- Regulatory bucket
- Treated as an SMD, not a 'bicycle'
Summary
County Code Sec. 9-1 splits e-bikes into three classes by motor type and top assisted speed, then groups all of them under the county's shared mobility device (SMD) rules covering bicycles, scooters and skateboards in the unincorporated area.
"E-bike" means any bicycle with an electric motor used for propulsion. E-bikes will be categorized into three classes: i. Class 1: Bicycles equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the e-bike reaches twenty miles per hour. ii. Class 2: Bicycle equipped with a throttle-actuated motor and that ceases to provide assistance when the e-bike reaches twenty miles per hour. iii. Class 3: Bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that cease to provide assistance when the e-bike reaches twenty-eight miles per hour. iv. Class 4: All other bicycles with any type of motorized assistance not otherwise categorized.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 9 of the county code, rewritten by Ord. No. 5063 in 2018, defines an "e-bike" in Sec. 9-1(b) as any bicycle with an electric motor used for propulsion, broken into classes by how the motor engages and its cutoff speed: Class 1 bikes assist only while pedaling and stop assisting at 20 mph; Class 2 bikes have a throttle-actuated motor that also cuts off at 20 mph; Class 3 bikes assist only while pedaling but cut off at 28 mph. The ordinance adds a local catch-all, Class 4, for any other bicycle with motorized assistance not covered by the first three classes.
Unlike the county's plain "bicycle" definition, which is limited to devices propelled exclusively by human power, e-bikes of every class are folded into the broader "shared mobility device" or "SMD" definition in Sec. 9-1(i) alongside electric scooters and motorized scooters. That classification matters practically because SMDs, including e-bikes, are subject to the removal and impoundment rules of Sec. 9-5 when parked in violation of posted restrictions or Vehicle Code Sections 21210 or 22651, and to the encroachment-permit requirement of Sec. 9-6 when operated as part of a shared mobility rental business.
The chapter itself does not set separate on-road or trail riding rules by class; the county's classification exists to route e-bikes into its shared-device parking, impoundment and business-licensing scheme rather than to restrict where each class may be ridden.
Violations & Fines
SMDs, including e-bikes, that are parked in violation of posted restrictions or found abandoned may be impounded by the sheriff's department under Sec. 9-5, with a reasonable recovery fee charged to the owner. A shared mobility business operating e-bikes without the required encroachment permit is guilty of a misdemeanor under Sec. 9-7(e) and is liable to the county for related expenses and damages under Streets and Highways Code § 1460.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Santa Barbara County classify e-bikes?
Does county code set separate riding rules for each e-bike class?
Are e-bikes treated the same as regular bicycles under county code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Barbara County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Barbara County to another location·View the California mobility & curb rules overview
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