Washington County, MN Mobility & Curb Rules: E-Bike Classes (2026)

Washington County Ordinance No. 218, the county's Parks Ordinance, does not use Minnesota's statutory three-tier e-bike class system (Minn. 011, subd. 27) inside its park system. Instead, Chapter I, Section 3(j) defines a single, broader category: an "Electric Recreational Vehicle" is "any self-propelled vehicle with one, two or three wheels that may also be propelled by means of pedaling or pushing," expressly naming electric bicycles, Segways, and electric scooters as examples. Every device that fits that definition, whether a Class 1 pedal-assist commuter bike or a throttle-driven electric scooter, is regulated identically under Chapter VI, Section 13.

Section 13(a) confines these vehicles to "trails designated for bicycling and roadways," so riding one on a hiking-only, equestrian, or cross-country ski trail is a violation even if bicycles are otherwise permitted nearby. " Section 13(c) folds in the state's general traffic code, Minnesota Statutes Chapter 169, so operators must also obey state rules of the road. Section 13(e) sets a hard power ceiling: no electric recreational vehicle may run a motor "greater than 1000 watts," a limit that applies whether the county calls the device a bike, scooter, or Segway.

Section 13(d) bars careless or unsafe riding, Section 13(f) forbids blocking trail traffic without Director authorization, and Section 13(g) keeps gas-powered, internal-combustion recreational vehicles off bicycling trails unless the Director designates otherwise.