Olympia, WA Public Conduct: Skateboarding Rules (2026)

Olympia Municipal Code Chapter 10.68 regulates skateboards in two ways: a fixed downtown ban and a citywide negligence rule.

The downtown ban is § 10.68.010. No person can ride a skateboard upon any street, sidewalk or public parking lot within the described area of downtown in the City of Olympia. The area is bounded on the West by the easterly border of the travelled portion of Water Street, on the South by the southerly border of the travelled portion of Legion Way, on the East by the easterly edge of the sidewalk on the East side of Washington Street, and on the North by the northerly edge of the sidewalk on the North side of State Avenue. Streets, sidewalks and public parking lots inside that box are covered, so a rider crossing it on a sidewalk is inside the ban.

Section 10.68.020 defines what counts as riding. A person is deemed to be riding a skateboard if the person is standing, with one or both feet touching the skateboard, crouching, sitting or lying upon the skateboard while it is in motion. Carrying a board or standing beside it while it is not in motion is outside that definition.

The negligence rule is § 10.68.030, and it applies everywhere in the City, whether or not the conduct occurs within the downtown area. It is unlawful to operate a skateboard in a negligent manner upon any roadway, sidewalk or publicly owned parking lot. Operating in a negligent manner means operating the skateboard in such a manner as to endanger or be likely to endanger any person or property. A rider outside the downtown box can still be cited if the riding endangers or is likely to endanger someone.

Penalties come from § 10.68.040. Any person violating any provision of the chapter is guilty of a civil infraction and, upon a finding of a violation, is subject to a monetary penalty of not more than two hundred fifty dollars. Any wilful failure to respond to a notice of infraction under the chapter is punishable as provided in Section 10.24.060 of the code.