Ames, IA Public Conduct: Skateboarding Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Banned area
- Lincoln Way/6th St/Duff Ave/Pearle Ave zone
- What's banned
- Streets, alleys, sidewalks, parking areas
- Waiver authority
- Ames City Council
- Waiver condition
- Street temporarily closed for special event
- First violation penalty
- $50 municipal infraction
- Repeat violation penalty
- $100
Summary
The City of Ames, Iowa bans riding skateboards on streets, alleys, sidewalks, parking areas, and city property within a defined downtown zone bounded by Lincoln Way, Sixth Street, Duff Avenue, and Pearle Avenue extended, under Ames Municipal Code Sec. 17.28. The City Council can waive the ban for a temporarily closed street hosting a special event.
Sec. 17.28. SKATEBOARDS PROHIBITED IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS, WAIVER. (1) In the area bounded by the south line of Lincoln Way on the south, the north line of Sixth Street on the north, the east line of Duff Avenue on the east and a line along the westernmost edge of Pearle Avenue extended north to the north line of Sixth Street and south to the south line of Lincoln Way, the riding or use of skateboards and similar devices is prohibited in or on any part of the city streets, alleys, sidewalks or parking areas, and in or on any part of any city building or city property within said area, except as hereinafter provided. (2) The above stated prohibition may be waived by the City Council with respect to such segments of the city streets, alleys, sidewalks, or parking areas as shall have been temporarily closed by the City Council for normal traffic in order to accommodate a special event. ... (3) Violation of this section shall be a municipal infraction punishable by a penalty of $50 for a person's first violation thereof and $100 for each repeat violation. Alternatively, violation of this section can be charged by a peace office of the City as a simple misdemeanor.
Full Breakdown
Section 17.28 prohibits riding or using skateboards and similar devices within a specific downtown boundary: south of the Lincoln Way south line, north of the Sixth Street north line, east of the Duff Avenue east line, and along the westernmost edge of Pearle Avenue extended north to Sixth Street and south to Lincoln Way. Inside that zone the ban covers city streets, alleys, sidewalks, and parking areas, plus any city building or city property, effectively covering the Campustown and Main Street core. The City Council may waive the prohibition for street segments that have been temporarily closed to normal traffic to accommodate a special event, letting skateboarding occur during festivals or similarly closed-street gatherings within the zone.
The ordinance was amended multiple times between 1987 and 1997, reflecting periodic adjustments to the boundary and waiver mechanism, but the core prohibition and City Council waiver authority remain the operative rule. Enforcement falls to the Ames Police Department, which can cite a rider found skateboarding within the mapped area outside a Council-authorized waiver period.
Violations & Fines
Violating Section 17.28's downtown skateboard prohibition is a municipal infraction punishable by a $50 penalty for a first violation and $100 for each repeat violation, and a peace officer may instead charge the violation as a simple misdemeanor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is skateboarding banned in downtown Ames?
Can the skateboard ban be lifted for an event in Ames?
What is the fine for skateboarding in the banned Ames zone?
Does the Ames skateboard ban apply outside downtown?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ames
Compare Ames to another location·View the Iowa public conduct overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.