Iowa City, IA Public Conduct: Skateboarding Rules (2026)

Section 9-1-7 of the Iowa City Code defines 'nonmotorized vehicles' as roller skates, in-line skates, skateboards, coasters, unicycles, and similar wheeled or coasting devices (bicycles, wheelchairs, strollers, and small wagons are excluded and regulated separately). Subsection A bans operating any of these devices on a street within the central downtown business district, which the code draws as the area bounded by and including Capitol Street on the west, Burlington Street on the south, Gilbert Street on the east, and Jefferson Street on the north, and on any of the dozens of streets the code designates as arterial streets citywide, including Burlington Street, Riverside Drive, and Mormon Trek Boulevard.

Subsection D goes further for downtown sidewalks specifically: no one may travel on or operate a nonmotorized vehicle on a sidewalk anywhere inside that same central downtown business district, full stop, with no exception. Outside downtown, riders may use sidewalks, but subsection C requires yielding the right of way to pedestrians and operating in a careful and prudent manner. Subsection B separately bars nonmotorized vehicles from any public parking ramp or lot unless it is posted as a permitted activity.

Where riding is allowed on a road, street, or alley, subsection A2 requires staying as far right as possible except to turn left, moving with the flow of traffic, obeying all traffic laws that apply to motor vehicle drivers, and wearing a reflective device or reflective clothing after dusk. Iowa City police enforce these as traffic offenses citywide.