Garland, TX Mobility & Curb Rules: Shared E-Scooter Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code of Ordinances § 32.53(N)
- Abandonment trigger
- Unmoved more than 24 hours
- Blocking rule
- Blocking a street or sidewalk is always an offense
- Redemption window
- 14 days before treated as abandoned
- Who pays
- Reclamation fee charged to the rental company
Summary
Garland treats an abandoned rental bicycle or motorized scooter as a code violation, not just a nuisance. Code of Ordinances Section 32.53(N) makes it an offense for a shared scooter or bike to sit unmoved for more than 24 hours or block a street or sidewalk, and the City impounds violators and charges the rental company a reclamation fee to get them back.
(N) Rental bicycles and rental motorized scooters. (1) The presence of a rental bicycle or rental motorized scooter that remains on property other than property owned or controlled by the bicycle or scooter rental company, which remains unmoved for more than 24 hours, or is blocking a street or sidewalk is an offense. (2) The City shall impound any rental bicycle or scooter found on public property in violation of this section other than the property of the owner of the rental bicycle or scooter. (3) The City shall, at the request of an owner of private property, impound any rental bicycle or scooter found on private property. (4) The City will charge the owner of a rental bicycle or scooter impounded under this section a reclamation fee in the amount designated in the Master Fee and Rate Schedule... Impounded rental bicycles or rental motorized scooters shall be held for a minimum of 14 days to allow reclamation by a lawful owner, after which time the rental bicycles or rental motorized scooters shall be considered as abandoned.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4862189; v40 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
53(N) of the Code of Ordinances regulates rental bicycles and rental motorized scooters left on property other than land owned or controlled by the rental company. It is an offense for such a device to remain unmoved for more than 24 hours, or to block a street or sidewalk, regardless of how long it has sat there. On public property, the City impounds any violating rental bicycle or scooter outright; on private property, the City impounds one only at the request of the property owner, so a homeowner who finds a scooter dumped in their yard can call the City to have it removed rather than moving it themselves.
85 of Chapter 10, for each device recovered. The rental company has 14 days from impoundment to reclaim the device by paying that fee; after 14 days the bicycle or scooter is treated as abandoned property and disposed of under the law governing abandoned property, the same disposition rule Garland applies to unclaimed shopping carts under the neighboring subsection (G) of this same section.
Violations & Fines
Leaving a shared scooter or bicycle in violation of Section 32.53(N) results in City impoundment rather than a citation to the rider; the financial consequence lands on the rental company, which must pay a reclamation fee from the Master Fee and Rate Schedule within 14 days or forfeit the device as abandoned property.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a rental scooter sit on a Garland sidewalk?
Who pays if a scooter has to be impounded in Garland?
Can I have a scooter removed from my private yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Garland
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