Detroit, MI Mobility & Curb Rules: Shared E-Scooter Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Dept. of Public Works
- Speed cap
- 20 mph e-bikes, 15 mph others
- Sidewalk clearance
- 6 feet required
- Permit term
- Up to 2 years
- Illegally parked device
- Treated as street obstruction
Summary
Detroit requires a City permit before any company can offer shared e-scooters or e-bikes for hire, and sets strict geofenced no-ride and no-parking zones across the public right-of-way.
It shall be unlawful to make available for hire a shared electric personal mobility device for operation in any public place unless its owner has been issued and currently holds a valid shared mobility permit from the City and is in compliance with the terms and conditions of such permit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code Chapter 47, Article X, no company may make a shared electric scooter, e-bike, or similar device available for hire in Detroit without a shared mobility permit from the Department of Public Works. Permits run up to two years and set fleet size, deployment, and geofencing terms. Owners must geofence unsafe areas, cap speeds at 15-20 mph, and keep devices out of bike lanes, crosswalks, bus stops, and any sidewalk pedestrian zone narrower than six feet.
Violations & Fines
Devices parked in a prohibited zone count as an obstruction and can be removed, impounded, and billed under §§43-8-7/43-8-8. DPW can also revoke, suspend, or shrink an owner's fleet permit for repeated violations, tracked in an annual violation registry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do scooter companies need a permit to operate in Detroit?
Where can't a shared scooter be parked in Detroit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Detroit
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