Palm Springs, CA Public Conduct: Skateboarding Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Roadway ban
- No skateboards/scooters on any open roadway citywide
- Business district
- Banned on sidewalks/plazas within a business district
- Downtown zone
- Banned right-of-way-wide: Vista Chino to Ramon, Indian Canyon to Belardo
- Yield rule
- Must yield right-of-way to pedestrians
- Posting requirement
- Rental shops must post Section 12.90.020 on premises
Summary
Palm Springs bans skateboards, scooters, roller skates and similar devices on any open roadway, and on sidewalks or plazas within a business district, under Municipal Code Section 12.90.020. A separate downtown zone, from Vista Chino Road to Ramon Road and Indian Canyon Drive to Belardo Road, bars these devices on any public or private right-of-way at all.
§ 12.90.020. Use of skateboards, scooters, roller skates, and similar devices restricted. (a) It is unlawful for any person riding on a skateboard, scooter, roller skate, coaster, toy vehicle, or similar device to go upon an open roadway in the city of Palm Springs, or upon the sidewalk or public plaza in any business district as defined by Section 235 of the California Vehicle Code, or upon any inclined surface area of any parkade where signs forbidding such activity are displayed at the ground level elevator entrance and at each vehicular entrance to the parkade. (b) It is unlawful for any person riding on a skateboard, scooter, roller skate, coaster, toy vehicle, or similar device to go upon any portion of public or private rights-of-way in the downtown section of the city of Palm Springs in the area between the most northerly sidewalk of Vista Chino Road to the most southerly sidewalk of Ramon Road, and the most easterly sidewalk of Indian Canyon Drive to the most westerly sidewalk of Belardo Road.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4923139; v14 updated 2026-06-24).
Full Breakdown
020(a) makes it unlawful for anyone riding a skateboard, scooter, roller skate, coaster, toy vehicle or similar device to go onto an open roadway anywhere in Palm Springs, or onto a sidewalk or public plaza within any business district, or onto an inclined parking structure surface where forbidden by posted signs at the elevator and vehicle entrances. Subsection (b) goes further for the downtown core: no one riding these devices may use any portion of a public or private right-of-way in the area bounded by the most northerly sidewalk of Vista Chino Road, the most southerly sidewalk of Ramon Road, the most easterly sidewalk of Indian Canyon Drive, and the most westerly sidewalk of Belardo Road, without regard to whether the surface is a roadway, sidewalk or plaza.
Even outside those closed zones, subsections (c) and (d) require anyone on a skateboard, scooter or similar device to yield the right of way to pedestrians and prohibit riding at a speed that endangers people or property. 050(b). 060.
Violations & Fines
Riding a skateboard, scooter, roller skate or similar device on an open roadway, in a business-district sidewalk or plaza, or anywhere within the downtown right-of-way zone bounded by Vista Chino, Ramon, Indian Canyon and Belardo, is a citable infraction under Chapter 1.01 of the Municipal Code, enforced by the Palm Springs Police Department. Failing to yield to pedestrians or riding at a dangerous speed under Section 12.90.020(c) and (d) are separate, additional violations of the same section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skateboard on downtown Palm Springs sidewalks?
Where in Palm Springs can I legally ride a skateboard?
Does the Palm Springs skateboard ban apply to scooters and roller skates too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Springs
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