Charleston, SC Mobility & Curb Rules: Shared E-Scooter Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Scooter rental on public right-of-way
- Unlawful under § 19-91(b)(4)
- Maximum fine
- $50 on conviction of the misdemeanor
- Impound hold period
- 24 hours for unattended scooters
- Removal and storage fee
- $45 plus proof of ownership
- Where scooters are permitted
- Multi-use paths, bike facilities, roads posted under 25 mph
- Public sidewalks
- Motorized scooters banned
- Last amended
- Ordinance No. 2026-089, May 12, 2026
Summary
Charleston bans scooter sharing outright: § 19-91(b)(4) makes it unlawful to rent, offer, or make available a motor scooter for use on a public right-of-way. Riders of privately owned motorized scooters are shut out of public sidewalks and most roadways, and a violation is a misdemeanor carrying a maximum fine of $50.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motorized scooter: a. Upon any roadway designed for vehicular traffic; b. Upon any public sidewalk; c. In a city-owned or leased parking garage or surface lot; d. Upon a city-owned or leased athletic field or tennis court; (2) Motorized scooters are permitted on multi-use paths, on-road bike facilities, and roads that have a posted speed limit of less than twenty-five (25) miles per hour. ... (4) It shall be unlawful to rent, offer, or make available a motor scooter for the use on a public right-of-way. (5) Any motor scooter left physically unattended on the public property may be removed and held by the city for twenty-four (24) hours. A confiscated motorized scooter shall be released upon proof of ownership and payment of a forty-five dollar ($45.00) fee for removal and storage. ... (c) Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction, shall be subject to a maximum fine of fifty dollars ($50.00).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 114 | Zoning: Supplement 25).
Full Breakdown
No scooter-share operator can legally put rental scooters on Charleston streets. Section 19-91(b)(4) of the City Code, last amended by Ordinance No. 2026-089 on May 12, 2026, makes it unlawful to rent, offer, or make available a motor scooter for use on a public right-of-way. The ban reaches the company that supplies the scooter, not only the person riding it.
The same section limits where anyone can ride a motorized scooter. Under § 19-91(b)(1) it is unlawful to operate one on any roadway designed for vehicular traffic, on any public sidewalk, in a city-owned or leased parking garage or surface lot, or on a city-owned or leased athletic field or tennis court. Subsection (b)(2) names the places where scooters are permitted: multi-use paths, on-road bike facilities, and roads with a posted speed limit of less than 25 miles per hour.
Subsection (b)(7) defines a motorized scooter as a two-wheeled device that has handlebars, a floorboard designed to be stood upon when riding, or a removeable seat and is powered by a motor. Subsection (b)(3) carries the riding standard onto private property: it is unlawful to use a motorized scooter there in a reckless manner, and operators must exercise due care for the safety of others using the property and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians or other vehicular traffic.
Subsection (b)(6) defines reckless manner as operating with a conscious, willful, or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. The definition names excessive speed, dangerous maneuvers, disregard for rules, and impaired riding. Anyone riding on a sidewalk, on-road bike facility, or shared-use or multi-use path must also yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other vehicular traffic at all times.
Toy scooters fall under a separate subsection. Section 19-91(a)(1) bars users of roller skates, in-line skates, coasters, toy scooters, and motorized toy vehicles from roadways posted above 25 miles per hour, except at crosswalks, and subsection (a)(2) keeps any such device that can exceed 15 miles per hour off public sidewalks.
Violations & Fines
A violation of § 19-91 is a misdemeanor, and on conviction subsection (c) sets a maximum fine of $50. Enforcement also targets parked scooters: under (b)(5) a motor scooter left physically unattended on public property can be removed and held by the city for 24 hours. The owner gets it back with proof of ownership and payment of a $45 removal and storage fee. After 24 hours the city can discard, donate, or auction it, and it bears no responsibility for loss or damage, including to a chain or lock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent an electric scooter in Charleston?
Where can I ride my own motorized scooter in Charleston?
What happens if I leave my scooter on a city sidewalk?
What counts as reckless scooter riding in Charleston?
What is the penalty for breaking the scooter rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston
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