Bellevue, WA Public Conduct: Skateboarding Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- BCC 11.48.150
- Where allowed on roadway
- Crosswalks only
- Rights while crossing
- Same as pedestrians
- Exception
- Designated play streets
- Penalty class
- Traffic infraction
Summary
Bellevue keeps roller skates, coasters, toy vehicles and similar wheeled devices, the category skateboards fall under, off city roadways except at marked crosswalks. Riders crossing there get pedestrian rights and duties, and violating the rule is a traffic infraction.
No person upon roller skates, or riding in or by means of any coaster, toy vehicle or similar device, shall go upon any roadway except while crossing a street on a crosswalk, and when so crossing such person shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to pedestrians. This section shall not apply upon any street while set aside as a play street as authorized by ordinance of this city. Violation of this section is a traffic infraction.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 6929, passed July 14, 2026).
Full Breakdown
150 bars anyone on roller skates, or riding a coaster, toy vehicle or similar wheeled device, from going onto any roadway except while crossing at a crosswalk. While crossing there, the rider is granted all the rights and is held to all the duties that apply to a pedestrian, meaning normal crosswalk right-of-way rules govern rather than vehicle traffic rules. The one carve-out is a street formally set aside as a play street by city ordinance, where the roadway restriction does not apply. 210, which specifically permit motorized scooters on roadways and bike lanes.
48 Driving Rules alongside sidewalk and driveway provisions. It applies citywide, including through Bellevue's downtown business core, where the volume of pedestrian and vehicle traffic makes the crosswalk-only rule the operative standard for kids and adults moving through the area on wheeled toys.
Violations & Fines
Violation of BCC 11.48.150 is a traffic infraction, the same civil traffic-infraction track Bellevue uses for other Chapter 11.48 driving-rule violations. A Bellevue police officer can issue a notice of infraction to anyone riding a coaster, roller skates, toy vehicle or similar device on a roadway outside a crosswalk. The infraction carries a monetary penalty processed through the municipal traffic-infraction court schedule rather than criminal charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you ride a skateboard on Bellevue streets?
Is there an exception for play streets in Bellevue?
Are Bellevue's motorized scooter rules the same as the skateboard rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bellevue
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Skateboarding Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle skateboarding rules.