Virginia E-Scooter Laws: Sidewalk, Helmet & Age Rules (2026)

This article is general information about Virginia e-scooter law and is not legal advice. If you were cited or injured, a Virginia-licensed attorney or the Code of Virginia text at law.lis.virginia.gov can give you a current, situation-specific answer. Information last verified on 23 July 2026.

Are e-scooters legal in Virginia?

Yes. Virginia Code Title 46.2, Chapter 8, Article 12 gives stand-up electric scooters their own defined vehicle category, "motorized skateboard or scooter," alongside bicycles, electric power-assisted mobility devices (EPAMDs), and electric power-assisted bicycles. The core operating rules sit mainly in sections 46.2-904, 46.2-906.1, and 46.2-908.1. Unlike a state that stays silent on e-scooters and leaves them to a moped or motor-vehicle default, Virginia's statute speaks to them directly, so most legal questions about a standard rental or personally-owned kick scooter have a direct statutory answer here. See the e-scooter laws hub for how Virginia compares to other states.

What counts as an e-scooter in Virginia

Section 46.2-100 defines a "motorized skateboard or scooter" as any vehicle, regardless of the number of wheels touching the ground, that lets the operator sit or stand, carries no manufacturer-issued vehicle identification number, is powered in whole or in part by an electric motor, weighs less than 100 pounds, and has a top speed of no more than 20 mph. The definition specifically excludes EPAMDs and electric power-assisted bicycles, which are separate categories with their own rules. A standard stand-up rental or personal e-scooter fits comfortably within these limits.

Where you can ride

Motorized skateboards and scooters have a top speed of 20 mph under section 46.2-908.1. That section's rule allowing roadway operation only where the posted speed limit is 25 mph or lower, and only when a sidewalk isn't available or sidewalk riding has been locally prohibited, is written for electric personal assistive mobility devices (EPAMDs) rather than motorized skateboards or scooters. Riders may not ride more than two abreast on the roadway.

On a sidewalk or shared-use path, riders must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and give an audible signal before overtaking. A locality may prohibit riding on specific sidewalks or crosswalks by ordinance, as long as it posts signage saying so, so sidewalk access can vary block by block depending on local rules layered on top of the state baseline.

Rider rules

Age: 14 to ride unsupervised. A rider younger than 14 must have the immediate supervision of someone at least 18 years old.

Helmet: Virginia has no statewide helmet requirement for motorized-skateboard-or-scooter riders of any age. Section 46.2-906.1 only authorizes counties, cities, and towns to adopt their own helmet ordinance, and only for riders 14 and under. Where a locality has adopted one, the fine is $25, typically suspended for a first offense if the rider buys a helmet afterward. A local helmet ordinance is not treated as evidence of negligence or contributory negligence in a civil lawsuit.

License/registration: none required for a motorized skateboard or scooter.

Penalties

A violation of the sidewalk, crosswalk, or shared-use path operating rules in section 46.2-904 carries a civil penalty of up to $50. Virginia treats these as civil infractions rather than criminal traffic offenses. Section 46.2-908.1, covering roadway speed and access, does not set out its own penalty for a violation.

Enforcement in practice

No statewide Virginia enforcement statistics specific to motorized skateboards or scooters, such as citation counts, were documented in the research behind this article. Enforcement patterns do not change what the statute requires, and how strictly a particular locality enforces the roadway, sidewalk, or local helmet rules is not a form of permission to disregard them.

Virginia Beach e-scooter rules

No Virginia Beach municipal ordinance specific to e-scooters was confirmed in the research behind this article. Riders in Virginia Beach are subject to the statewide framework described above, including whichever local helmet ordinance, if any, the city has adopted for riders 14 and under. Check the city's current municipal code directly before assuming a citywide rule beyond the state baseline.

If a scooter rider is hit by a vehicle, or a rider collides with someone else, in Virginia Beach or anywhere else in the state, the general framework in Virginia car accident laws covers fault and insurance questions for road users generally. Virginia's impaired-operation laws can also come into play for a motorized skateboard or scooter much as they do for a bicycle or moped; see Virginia DUI laws for that broader framework.