Kern County, CA Public Conduct: Skateboarding Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Kern County Code § 13.04.070
- Required gear
- Helmet, elbow pads, knee pads
- Applies at
- County-owned/operated skateboard parks
- Penalty basis
- Infraction under § 1.12.020
- Added penalty
- Administrative fine, Ch. 8.54
Summary
Anyone riding a skateboard at a county-owned or operated skateboard park in Kern County must wear a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads. Skating without all three pieces of gear is a citable infraction, on top of any administrative penalty the county chooses to assess.
Any person riding a skateboard at a skateboard park owned or operated by the county, that is designed and maintained for the purpose of recreational skateboard use, must wear a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads. Any person riding a skateboard without wearing a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads is guilty of an infraction punishable as prescribed in Section 1.12.020 of this code. A person who violates this section is also subject to an administrative penalty under Chapter 8.54 of this code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 59 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
" The rule is a straightforward equipment mandate rather than a broader public skateboarding ban: it does not restrict skateboarding on sidewalks, streets, or business districts elsewhere in unincorporated Kern County, and it applies only at the county's designated skateboard park facilities. 020 of the county code, the general infraction-penalty section that sets fine ranges for code violations not otherwise specified. 54, the countywide administrative citation program that lets code enforcement or park staff issue a civil fine independent of, or in addition to, the criminal infraction citation.
Because the requirement is protective gear rather than an outright activity ban, park staff can post the requirement at the skate park entrance and cite riders on sight rather than needing to close the facility to enforce it.
Violations & Fines
Riding a skateboard at a county skateboard park without a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads is an infraction under Section 13.04.070, punishable as set out in Section 1.12.020 of the Kern County code. The rider is also subject to a separate administrative penalty under Chapter 8.54 for the same conduct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need pads to skate at a Kern County skate park?
Does Kern County ban skateboarding on sidewalks or in business districts?
What is the penalty for skating without pads at a county skate park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kern County
California rules heatmap·Compare Kern County to another location·View the California public conduct overview
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