Seattle, WA Mobility & Curb Rules: E-Bike Classes (2026)
Key Facts
- Motor power cap
- 750 watts, all e-bike classes
- Class 1 cutoff
- 20 mph, pedal-assist only
- Class 2 cutoff
- 20 mph, throttle allowed
- Class 3 cutoff
- 28 mph, pedal-assist + speedometer required
- Sidewalk rule
- Class 3 barred absent no alternative route
- E-cargo bike speed cap
- 15 mph, roadway/bike lane
Summary
SMC 11.14.055 adopts three e-bike classes by motor behavior, Class 1 and 3 assist only while pedaling (cutting off at 20 and 28 mph), Class 2 can propel without pedaling up to 20 mph, and SMC 11.44.120 bars Class 3 e-bikes from Seattle sidewalks except where there's no alternative route.
"Class 1 electric-assisted bicycle" means an electric-assisted bicycle in which the motor provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour;2."Class 2 electric-assisted bicycle" means an electric-assisted bicycle in which the motor may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour;3."Class 3 electric-assisted bicycle" means an electric-assisted bicycle in which the motor provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour and is equipped with a speedometer... Operation of a class 3 electric-assisted bicycle on a sidewalk is unlawful, unless there is no alternative to travel over a sidewalk as part of a bicycle or pedestrian path.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 44 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
" A fourth category, the "electric-assisted commercial cargo bicycle," covers freight and delivery e-cargo bikes up to 750 watts continuous rated power. 300: they may travel in the roadway and protected bicycle lanes at up to 15 mph, with the motor barred from assisting pedaling above that speed; they may use most curb load/unload, paid, and restricted parking zones and on-street bike corrals without paying at meters when permitted; they may park in the sidewalk furniture zone if no on-street space is available; and sidewalk riding is unlawful under the same no-alternative-route standard that governs Class 3 bikes.
Violations & Fines
There's no separate SMC penalty schedule listed for e-bike class violations beyond the general bicycle-infraction framework in Chapter 11.44; a Class 3 e-bike ridden on a sidewalk where an alternate route exists violates SMC 11.44.120, and an e-cargo bike exceeding the 15 mph roadway/bike-lane speed cap or riding the sidewalk without a no-alternative justification violates SMC 11.44.300.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Seattle's e-bike classes?
Can I ride my Class 3 e-bike on a Seattle sidewalk?
How fast can an e-cargo bike go in a Seattle bike lane?
Where can I legally park an e-cargo bike?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Seattle
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E-Bike Classes in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle e-bike classes.