Prince William County, VA Public Conduct: Skateboarding Rules (2026)

Section 13-408(a) makes it unlawful to 'play in or on a highway, other than upon the sidewalks thereof,' which covers plain (non-motorized) skateboards, roller skates and similar wheeled toys under the chapter's playing-on-highways rule. Subsection (b) adds a separate, more specific ban on 'toy vehicles' (a term that includes skateboards and similar riding devices under Virginia's definitions) using the roadway itself on any highway that has a speed limit above 25 miles per hour, has more than two travel lanes, or sits outside a residence district, meaning the practical safe harbor is a slow, narrow, residential street or a sidewalk.

The chief of police can open up more room under § 13-410 by designating specific highways or portions of them as play areas for sledding and similar recreation, but only after getting written approval from every property owner or tenant whose sole access runs through the closed stretch, erecting barricades, posting notice, and notifying the state's resident highway engineer; primary highways can never be designated. Motorized skateboards and scooters are handled differently: they are folded into the 'vehicle' category for sidewalk-driving purposes under § 13-231 and passing/lane rules under § 13-212, so a rider on a motorized board faces a distinct set of equipment and right-of-way obligations rather than the play/toy-vehicle rules of § 13-408.