Arlington County, VA Public Conduct: Skateboarding Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Street/trail speed cap
- 15 mph
- Sidewalk speed cap
- 6 mph
- Sidewalk riding
- Allowed unless posted or bike lane present
- Yield-to-pedestrian violation
- $50 civil penalty
- Helmet requirement
- Riders 14 and younger
Summary
Arlington County treats motorized skateboards as vehicles under County Code § 14.2-65, letting riders use most sidewalks and streets but capping speed at fifteen miles per hour on streets and trails and six on sidewalks, and requiring riders to yield to pedestrians. Sidewalk riding is barred outright next to protected bike lanes, and violations draw a $50 civil penalty.
1. A person may ride a bicycle, electric power-assisted bicycle, motorized skateboard or motorized scooter upon any sidewalk, except for those sidewalks designated by the County Manager or designee on which bicycle, electric power-assisted bicycle, motorized skateboard or motorized scooter-riding is prohibited. Signs indicating such prohibition shall be posted in general areas where sidewalk-riding is prohibited. The use of sidewalks for operating bicycles, electric-power assisted bicycles, motorized skateboards and motorized scooters is prohibited along streets where protected bicycle lanes are available in the direction of travel. A person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, motorized skateboard or scooter, motor-driven cycle, or electric power-assisted bicycle on a sidewalk or across a roadway on a crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian. Violations of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than Fifty Dollars ($50.00).
Full Breakdown
2-65, except where those duties by their nature can't apply. A caps a motorized skateboard's speed at fifteen (15) miles per hour on streets and multi-use trails and at six (6) miles per hour on public sidewalks, and requires it be operated with reasonable regard for the safety of the operator and everyone else on the County's streets, trails and sidewalks. 1, a rider may use any sidewalk except one the County Manager has posted as off-limits, and sidewalk riding is barred outright on any street that has a protected bicycle lane running the same direction. 1. A requires anyone fourteen or younger to wear a CPSC-rated helmet while riding a motorized skateboard on a highway, sidewalk or trail. 2-62.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the fifteen-mph street cap or the six-mph sidewalk cap, riding a posted no-skateboard sidewalk, or failing to yield to a pedestrian each draw a civil penalty of up to $50 under § 14.2-65. A first helmet violation by a rider fourteen or younger is a $25 fine, suspended if the rider buys a qualifying helmet before payment is due. Any other Article II violation defaults to the $250 general penalty in § 14.2-66.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you skateboard on Arlington County sidewalks?
What's the speed limit for skateboarding in Arlington County?
What's the fine for a skateboard violation in Arlington County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington County
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