Janesville, WI Public Conduct: Skateboarding Rules (2026)

Janesville Code of General Ordinances § 38-611 makes it unlawful to operate, ride, or propel a skateboard upon any public street, highway, sidewalk, parking lot, or other public property within a specifically defined downtown boundary running along North Academy Street, Dodge Street, North River Street, Court Street, the east bank of the Rock River, St. Lawrence Avenue, South Wisconsin Street, Prospect Avenue, and North Parker Drive, and separately bans skateboarding on City parking lots wherever located; the only exception to both prohibitions is City-owned bike trails.

Section 38-612 defines 'propel' as using force to move or push forward, 'ride' as being carried or traveling on a vehicle, and 'skateboard' as a play vehicle consisting of a board mounted on small wheels used for coasting or performing athletic stunts. Section 38-613 separately bars riding a skateboard on private property without permission from the owner, lessee, or person in control. Outside the restricted downtown zone and City lots, § 38-614 permits skateboarding on publicly owned sidewalks and bike trails, but requires operators to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and not endanger or interfere with normal pedestrian traffic on those sidewalks and trails.