Cowlitz County, WA Public Conduct: Skateboarding Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- CCC § 10.05.020, § 10.05.010(L)
- Where it applies
- County facilities/plazas, not parks (separate Park Code)
- Consequence
- Trespass warning, not a direct fine
- First exclusion length
- Up to 7 days
- Repeat exclusion length
- Up to 90 days, then up to 1 year
Summary
Unincorporated Cowlitz County does not ban skateboarding outright, but its Code of Conduct and Trespass chapter names skating or skateboarding in a public parking area, entryway or open plaza of a county facility as an example of unreasonably disruptive behavior that can lead to a trespass warning.
Dangerous or unsafe actions or behavior, illegal actions or behavior, and unreasonably disruptive actions or behavior, as defined in CCC § 10.05.020, are prohibited within all county facilities and properties. ... "Unreasonably disruptive actions or behavior" are actions or behavior that are not constitutionally protected and that, in consideration of the nature, scope, use and purpose of the publicly owned property in question, unreasonably interferes with others' use and enjoyment of publicly owned property. Examples of unreasonably disruptive behavior include, but are not limited to, any of the following: ... Actions or behavior that are unreasonably inconsistent with the normal use for which the publicly owned property was designed and intended to be used (e.g., bathing, shaving, or washing clothes in a public bathroom or skating/skateboarding in a public parking area, entryway, or open plaza).
Full Breakdown
010(L) prohibits dangerous or unsafe actions, illegal actions, and unreasonably disruptive actions or behavior within all county facilities and properties. 020 defines "unreasonably disruptive actions or behavior" as conduct that is not constitutionally protected and that unreasonably interferes with others' use and enjoyment of publicly owned property, and its list of examples includes "skating/skateboarding in a public parking area, entryway, or open plaza" alongside acts like bathing or shaving in a public bathroom, framed as behavior inconsistent with the normal use for which the property was designed.
06. 030, an authorized officer, meaning a law enforcement officer, security personnel, or designated county staff, can issue a written trespass warning to a person engaged in unreasonably disruptive skating or skateboarding at a county facility, excluding that person from the facility. 040, a first trespass warning within a year excludes the person for up to seven days, a second for more than seven but not more than 90 days, and a third or later warning for more than 90 days up to one year.
Violations & Fines
Skateboarding itself carries no fine, but a person who returns to the county facility while a trespass warning is in effect may be arrested for trespassing under RCW 9A.52.070 or 9A.52.080, per CCC § 10.05.080. An excluded person can appeal to the Board of County Commissioners within seven business days under § 10.05.070, and the trespass warning remains in effect during that review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is skateboarding illegal in unincorporated Cowlitz County?
Does the county facility skateboarding rule apply to county parks?
What happens if I keep skateboarding at a county facility after a warning?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cowlitz County
Compare Cowlitz County to another location·View the Washington public conduct overview
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