Fairfax County, VA Mobility & Curb Rules: Shared E-Scooter Rules (2026)

Section 86-5-3 of Chapter 86 sets three rules for Shared Mobility Devices, the code's term for the rental e-scooters and bikes that operate under the county permit program administered by the Department of Cable and Consumer Services. Subsection (a) is sign-driven: riding is prohibited only on sidewalks and crosswalks the county has designated with posted signs, so the presence or absence of a sign tells a rider whether a particular sidewalk is off-limits under this section. Subsection (b) governs parking and can be violated two ways: leaving a device in a manner that impedes the normal movement of pedestrian or other traffic, or leaving it where parking is prohibited by official traffic control devices.

A scooter dropped across a sidewalk fails the first test even where no sign is posted, because the standard is whether normal movement is impeded. Subsection (c) makes a violation of the section civil rather than criminal, punishable by a civil penalty of not more than $50. Devices permitted under the county program are limited to a top speed of 10 mph.