Fort Collins, CO Public Conduct: Skateboarding Rules (2026)

Two parallel articles in Chapter 23 cover skateboards. In natural areas, the open-space and habitat preserves the Natural Areas Department manages, § 23-193(a)(8) makes it unlawful to bicycle, skateboard or roller skate in a natural area except upon a roadway or designated trail, and § 23-193(a)(15) separately bans riding a horse, bicycle, skateboard or other means of conveyance, or skating, in a reckless or unsafe manner in a natural area. In City parks, golf courses and designated trails, the recreation areas the Parks Department manages under Article X, § 23-203(b)(5) flips the default: skateboarding and in-line skating are unlawful anywhere in a recreation area except on a sidewalk, roadway, parking area or designated trail, unless the Department has posted a sign opening a specific area for that use.

The same Article separately bans reckless skateboarding under § 23-203(a)(14), and bars skateboards, along with bicycles, from tennis, volleyball and horseshoe courts under § 23-203(a)(12). Both articles carve out exceptions for motorized wheelchairs and other ADA mobility devices, which are not treated as skateboards or bicycles for these purposes. Because the two articles cover different land, a skate spot legal on a paved recreation-area trail can be unlawful the moment the trail crosses into an adjoining natural area, where only roadways and designated trails are open to skateboards at all.