Putnam County, NY Public Conduct: Skateboarding Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Fine range
- $100 to $500 per offense
- Jail exposure
- Up to 1 year
- Scope
- County-owned facilities and grounds only
- Devices covered
- Skateboards, roller skates, in-line skates
- Adopted
- 12-6-1999 by L.L. No. 12-1999
- Related ban
- Wax/slippery substances on steps, curbs, § 31-45
Summary
Putnam County bans skateboards, in-line skates and roller skates on the grounds of any county-owned facility, including steps, stairs, sidewalks, parking lots, railings, curbs and planters. Violators face a misdemeanor charge carrying up to a year in jail and a fine up to $500.
§ 31-41. Legislative intent. ... It is the purpose of the Legislature of Putnam County in enacting this chapter to protect the residents and property of Putnam County from the use of in-line skates, roller skates and skateboards in a manner which may create a risk of harm or danger to such persons or property. § 31-4 ... ... 3. Skating devices not permitted. No person shall use or operate a skating device upon the grounds of any facility owned by the County of Putnam, including but not limited to steps, stairs, sidewalks, parking lots, railings, curbs, planters or in any areas where signs are legally posted forbidding such activity. § 31-4 ... ... 6. Penalties for offenses. ... Any person convicted of violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, or both.
Full Breakdown
L. No. 12-1999, was enacted "to protect the residents and property of Putnam County from the use of in-line skates, roller skates and skateboards in a manner which may create a risk of harm or danger to such persons or property" (§ 31-41). Section 31-43 makes it unlawful to use or operate any skating device, defined in § 31-42 to include skateboards, in-line skates and roller skates, on the grounds of a county-owned facility: steps, stairs, sidewalks, parking lots, railings, curbs or planters are named specifically, and the ban extends to any other area where a sign is posted forbidding the activity.
The chapter reaches only county property; it says nothing about sidewalks, streets or business districts owned by a town or village, which regulate skateboarding, if at all, under their own codes. Where skating devices ARE allowed on county grounds, § 31-44 requires operators to comply with Article 34 of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law. Section 31-45 separately bars applying wax or any slippery substance to steps, stairs, sidewalks, curbs or planters in connection with skate use, closing off a workaround to the general ban.
Enforcement runs through the county's general penalty structure for this chapter: a conviction is a misdemeanor, not a mere infraction, reflecting the Legislature's intent to treat skating-device violations on county grounds seriously rather than as a ticketable nuisance.
Violations & Fines
Under § 31-46, as amended June 6, 2000 by L.L. No. 7-2000, a conviction for violating any provision of the skating-devices article is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500, imprisonment for up to one year, or both. The penalty applies per offense and covers both the location ban in § 31-43 and the slippery-substance prohibition in § 31-45.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I skateboard on Putnam County property?
What is the penalty for skateboarding on county property?
Does this rule apply to town or village sidewalks?
Can I skate somewhere the county allows it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Putnam County
New York rules heatmap·Compare Putnam County to another location·View the New York public conduct overview
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