Birmingham, AL Mobility & Curb Rules: Shared E-Scooter Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit requirement
- System permit required (Sec. 12-22-4(1))
- Application fee
- $500.00, plus $20.00/device yearly
- Initial fleet size
- 100 to 500 devices
- Top speed
- 20 mph on level pavement
- No-park zones
- ADA ramps, bus stops, crosswalks, hydrants
- Curfew
- Off 11 p.m.-6 a.m. except bicycles
- Impound fee
- Up to $50.00 per device
Summary
Birmingham requires a shared micromobility operator, whether renting scooters or e-bikes, to obtain a city council-approved system permit before deploying any device, and forbids parking those units in ADA ramps, bus stops, crosswalks, loading zones, or within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. Every device but a plain bicycle must go dark between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
(1)Unlawful to operate without authorization: It shall be unlawful for a system operator to provide or operate a shared micromobility device system within the city without first obtaining a system permit which has been authorized as provided in this chapter, and any required business license. ... (3)Shared micromobility devices shall not be parked in the following restricted areas: In the area within or immediately adjacent to: a.Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations including curb ramps, braille signs, railings and signal push buttons;b.Sidewalk cafes or street patios;c.Transit zones, including bus stops, shelters, passenger waiting areas, and bus layover and staging zones, except at existing bicycle racks;d.On-street parking spots;e.Loading zones; ... m.Within 15 feet of fire hydrants, drinking fountains, machines or equipment that requires pedestrian access, public art and any fixed regulatory or informational sign.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 3).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 22, 'Shared Micromobility Device Systems,' makes it unlawful under Section 12-22-4(1) for a system operator to provide or operate a shared scooter or e-bike program in the city without first obtaining a system permit granted by ordinance of the city council, plus any required business license. 00-per-device administrative fee. Section 12-22-6(b)(3) lists the no-parking zones that apply throughout the service area: within or immediately adjacent to ADA curb ramps and signal push buttons, sidewalk cafes, transit stops and bus layover zones, on-street parking spots, loading zones, disabled parking spaces, driveways, crosswalks, travel and bicycle lanes, and within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, drinking fountain, or fixed regulatory sign.
00 to reclaim each unit under Section 12-22-6(b)(9)-(10). , a window the city may adjust. The director can also designate geofenced no-go or must-park zones the operator's app has to enforce.
Violations & Fines
Deploying scooters or e-bikes without a system permit is unlawful under Section 12-22-4(1). Section 12-22-5(b) lets the city council revoke a permit for unauthorized operation, unpaid fees, lapsed insurance or bond, or ten unaddressed violations in 30 days, and Section 12-22-6(b)(9)-(10) authorizes police to ticket and impound any device blocking a no-parking zone or left unmoved for 72 hours, charging the operator up to $50.00 per unit to get it back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do shared scooter and e-bike companies need a permit to operate in Birmingham?
Where can't a shared scooter be parked?
Is there a curfew for shared scooters?
What happens if my rented scooter gets towed or impounded?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Birmingham
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