Denver, CO Public Conduct: Skateboarding Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Roadway use
- Banned except to cross at a crosswalk
- Sidewalk rule
- Must yield right-of-way to pedestrians
- Violation class
- Class B traffic infraction (civil)
- Exception
- Designated play streets exempted
- Governing section
- Denver Revised Municipal Code § 54-59
Summary
Denver bars skateboards, roller-skates, coasters, and similar devices from city roadways under Sec. 54-59, except to cross a street or crosswalk, where riders take on a pedestrian's rights and duties. On sidewalks, riders must yield to pedestrians.
No person upon roller-skates or riding in or upon or by means of any coaster, skateboard, toy vehicle or similar device shall go upon any roadway, except while crossing a street or 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 which has been set aside as a play street under authority of the city traffic engineer.(b)Any person upon roller-skates or riding in or upon or by means of any coaster, skateboard, toy vehicle or similar device shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians on sidewalks, and shall leave the sidewalk or dismount if necessary to yield such right-of-way to any pedestrians.(c)Persons with a mobility handicap and riding or operating a motor-driven, wheeled device on a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians on the sidewalk, and shall stop, if necessary, to yield such right-of-way to any pedestrians. (Code 1950, § 503.5)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 147 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
Denver Revised Municipal Code § 54-59 keeps skateboards, roller-skates, coasters, and similar devices off roadways citywide, with a narrow carve-out to cross a street or crosswalk, where the rider gets the same rights and takes on the same duties as a pedestrian. The city traffic engineer can lift the roadway ban on a given street by designating it a play street. On sidewalks, riders must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, and must dismount or leave the sidewalk if that's what it takes to let a pedestrian through. Section 54-4(b) classifies a violation as a Class B traffic infraction: a civil matter, not an arrestable offense.
Violations & Fines
Riding a skateboard, coaster, or roller-skates on a Denver roadway, or failing to yield to pedestrians on a sidewalk, is a Class B traffic infraction under Sec. 54-4(b): a civil citation, not a criminal offense or arrest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skateboard on the street in Denver?
Can I skateboard on the sidewalk in Denver?
What's the penalty for violating Sec. 54-59?
Sources & Official References
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