Are Electric Longboards Illegal? A Step-by-Step Plan

The short answer is maybe, electric longboard legality depends entirely on your state’s definition and your local city’s ordinances. In California, a board under 60 inches long, 18 inches wide, with an electric propulsion system averaging less than 1,000 watts and a max speed of 20 mph is a legal “electrically motorized board.” In Michigan, the same size board can have no more than 2,500 watts and go 25 mph. In many other states and countries, they exist in a legal gray area or are explicitly banned.

That “maybe” is the core of the problem. You’re not just looking up one law; you’re navigating a tangle of state statutes, contradictory local rules, and enforcement attitudes that can change block by block. A board that’s perfectly legal in one city might get confiscated a county over.

What follows is a map through the confusion: the two states with clear laws (California and Michigan), the factors that trip up riders everywhere, and a concrete method for checking your own local rules before you buy or ride.

Key Takeaways

• Legality is state-specific and locally variable; California and Michigan have explicit laws, most states do not.
• The critical specs are deck size (under 60″x18″), motor power (under 1000W or 2500W), and top speed (20 or 25 mph), exceed them and your board is likely illegal.
• Local ordinances always win. A state law permitting them can be overridden by a city ban, especially in downtowns, historic districts, or near waterfronts.
• Enforcement is inconsistent. What’s written in the code and what a police officer will stop you for are often different, creating a “ride at your own risk” reality.
• You have no insurance. If you crash and cause damage or injury while riding an illegal or gray-area board, your personal liability coverage likely won’t apply.

The State-by-State Patchwork (and Why It’s So Confusing)

Let’s clear something up. There is no federal law in the U.S. That says “electric longboards are legal” or “illegal.” The Federal Highway Administration calls this a “murky regulatory environment,” with rules often poorly defined or absent. This pushes the decision down to the state level, and most states haven’t bothered to make one.

Only two states have passed clear, device-specific laws: California and Michigan. Everyone else is guessing, applying old laws about motorized vehicles or skateboards, or leaving it up to cities and towns. This is why you see so many forum posts asking “are electric longboards illegal in Florida?” and getting five different answers. They’re all partially right, because the official answer doesn’t exist.

California Vehicle Code §313.5 defines a legal “electrically motorized board” as a wheeled device with a floorboard no greater than 60 inches long and 18 inches wide, an electric propulsion system averaging less than 1,000 watts, and a maximum speed of no more than 20 miles per hour on level ground.

The practical effect? If your board fits that definition, you have a right to ride it on streets, though local rules like San Mateo’s may restrict operation to streets with speed limits of 35 mph or less., wear a helmet, and use lights at night. If it doesn’t, say your board can hit 25 mph, it falls under a different code section (CVC §21968) that likely prohibits it from roadways entirely. This isn’t a minor technicality; it’s the core of the are electric longboards illegal question, the line between a regulated vehicle and contraband.

Michigan’s law, Michigan Compiled Laws §257.13f, paints a slightly more permissive picture. It uses the same size limits (60″ x 18″) but allows up to 2,500 watts of power and a top speed of 25 mph. This creates an immediate conflict: a board legal in Detroit could be illegal in Los Angeles based on wattage alone.

State	Legal Term	Max Size	Max Power	Max Speed	Key Age Rule
California	Electrically Motorized Board	60″ L x 18″ W	< 1,000 watts	20 mph	Operator must be 16+
Michigan	Electric Skateboard	60″ L x 18″ W	≤ 2,500 watts	25 mph	(No state-mandated helmet age specified)

For the other 48 states, you’re in the wilderness. Some, like Texas, have no specific law, leaving interpretation to local police. Others may classify your board as a “motor vehicle” requiring registration and insurance, which is impossible to get, making it de facto illegal. This patchwork is why the FHWA recommends states set clear, complete regulations to end the confusion, but until they do, the burden is on you to figure it out.

How Speed, Power, and Size Draw the Legal Line

Forget the brand name or the cool factor. To the law, your board is a set of numbers. Get one wrong, and you’ve crossed from a permitted personal transporter into an unregistered motor vehicle.

Speed is the biggest trigger. California’s 20 mph and Michigan’s 25 mph limits aren’t suggestions; they are the maximum speed the board can possibly achieve on a flat surface, regardless of how fast you actually ride. Many popular off-the-shelf boards boast 28+ mph top speeds. That marketing bullet point is also a declaration of illegality in those states. A board sold as a “30 mph cruiser” is, in the eyes of California Vehicle Code 313.5, an illegal motorized skateboard.

Motor power is the silent disqualifier. You can’t see 1,000 watts versus 2,500 watts, but the law cares. California’s sub-1,000-watt average is a strict ceiling. Michigan’s 2,500-watt limit is more forgiving, accommodating more powerful off-road and mountain boards. If you’re shopping, the motor spec is about both torque and your first legal checkpoint.

Deck size is the one thing you can measure with a tape. The 60-inch length and 18-inch width limits trace back to a standard skateboard deck size. A true “longboard” shape often exceeds 60 inches. This is the “electric longboard” vs. “electric skateboard” distinction that matters legally. If your deck is 62 inches long, it doesn’t matter if the motor is tiny, it’s already outside the legal definition in both California and Michigan. The official Michigan statute is explicit on these dimensions.

Here’s the part nobody mentions: these limits are about the board as manufactured. If you modify your board to go faster or install a more powerful motor, you’ve almost certainly voided its legal status. That DIY project to boost your speed could turn your commuter into a paperweight you can’t ride anywhere but private property.

Local Ordinances: The Rules That Actually Matter on Your Street

State law is the framework, but local law is the fence. Most state laws, including California’s, explicitly grant cities, counties, and even universities the power to create stricter rules. This means the state can say “yes,” and your town can say “not here.”

Where this goes sideways: Assuming state permission means local permission. You can legally ride your California-compliant board under state law, but if your city council has banned all motorized boards from its downtown historic district, you’ll get a ticket the moment you roll in.

Michigan’s law is a masterclass in local control. It explicitly allows local governments to prohibit electric skateboards in areas adjacent to a waterfront, in a downtown district, or on a street with streetcar tracks. It flat-out bans them in special charter cities and Mackinac Island State Park. Your local ordinance research is not a formality; it’s the most important step.

This is about both tickets and where you can practically go. A common rider report is planning a route only to find a “No Motorized Vehicles on Trail” sign at the entrance to a popular bike path. Local rules, like those in San Mateo which may prohibit operation in specific areas, often ban them from trails. These hyper-local rules are rarely published in a central, easy-to-find location. You have to dig.

The takeaway? State law tells you if you can own a legal board. Local law tells you where you can ride it. Skipping the second step is how riders get fined.

Helmet Laws, Age Limits, and Where You Can Ride

If your board and location check out, you still have rules of the road to follow. These are good ideas and legal requirements with fines attached.

Helmet laws are a patchwork within the patchwork. California state law says every rider, regardless of age, must wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet, while San Mateo city guidance only requires helmets for riders under 18. Which rule applies to you? If you’re 18 riding in San Mateo with a California-legal board, the stricter state law (all ages) wins. This is the kind of detail that turns a casual ride into a court date.

Age limits are less fuzzy. California sets the bar at 16. Michigan’s law does not specify a minimum age for operation. The reality is, letting a 10-year-old zip down a residential street might be technically possible in some interpretations, but it’s a liability nightmare waiting to happen.

So, a handlebar-equipped board has different street access in Detroit than in San Diego. This directly impacts what kind of board you should buy if street commuting is your goal.

For sidewalk use, the rule is almost universal: yield to pedestrians, give an audible signal before passing, and don’t be a nuisance. Many cities simply ban them from sidewalks altogether. When in doubt, walk it.

The Enforcement Gap: Written Law vs. Reality on the Ground

A fact often overlooked is that the law on the books and the law as enforced are often different worlds. This is the “grey area” riders in the UK, Netherlands, and unregulated U.S. States talk about constantly.

In places with no clear law, enforcement is at the officer’s discretion. I’ve read dozens of reports from riders in the UK, where the technical answer is “illegal,” but the practical reality is more nuanced. One rider noted, “I’ve skated past a couple officers at respectful speeds (5-10 mph ish) and they haven’t said anything to me.” Another warned, “Police do go out and seize boards.” The difference? Behavior, location, and luck.

Common mistake: Riding like the written law is the only factor. Your actual risk is a combination of the statute, local police priorities, your riding behavior, and pure chance. A rider weaving through pedestrians at 20 mph is a target. Someone cruising responsibly in a bike lane may never be stopped, even in a technically restrictive area.

This gap creates a “ride at your own risk” calculation. Some riders, like the one in the Netherlands who said “I always pretend I’m skating myself,” consciously exploit the enforcement gap. The risk isn’t just a fine; in some jurisdictions, they can confiscate your board. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued recalls for various micromobility devices due to safety hazards, which adds another layer of scrutiny an officer might consider if they stop you.

If you’re in a true legal gray area, your best protection is impeccable, defensive riding. You’re banking on not giving an officer a reason to make you the test case.

How to Actually Check If You Can Ride (A Step-by-Step Plan)

Don’t guess. Don’t rely on a Reddit post from three years ago. Here is a concrete, step-by-step method to determine your local legality.

1. Identify Your State’s Stance. Search “[Your State] electric skateboard law” or “motorized skateboard statute.” Look for a .gov or official legislature website. If you find nothing (which is likely), note that your state has no specific law.
2. Decode Your Local Ordinances. This is the crucial step. Go to your city or county’s official website. Use their “Code of Ordinances” or “Municipal Code” search function. Search for terms like “motorized skateboard,” “personal transportation device,” or “skateboard” in their traffic or parks chapters. This is where you’ll find the real bans or permissions. The model state regulations from the FHWA suggest this local flexibility is by design.
3. Check for Parks and Trail Rules. Separately, visit the websites of any local parks departments or trail conservancies. Their rules are often separate from city traffic code and frequently prohibit motorized vehicles.
4. Call for Clarification (The Nuclear Option). If the online code is incomprehensible, call your local non-emergency police line or the city clerk’s office. Be specific: “I’m trying to find the law regarding electric-powered skateboards that go under 20 mph on city streets.” Get a name and a reference code if they give you an answer.
5. Verify Your Board’s Specs. Pull up the manufacturer’s spec sheet for your exact model. Check the published top speed, motor power (in watts), and deck dimensions. Compare them directly to the laws you found in steps 1 and 2.

This process takes an hour. It’s boring. It’s bureaucratic. It’s also the only way to replace anxiety with a clear, documented answer. Relying on “I see other people doing it” is a strategy that works until the day it doesn’t.

The Liability Void: What Happens If You Crash?

This is the coldest, hardest part of the calculation. If you are riding an electric longboard in a legal gray area or in direct violation of a local ordinance, you are likely operating without any insurance coverage.

Personal liability insurance (the part of your renters or homeowners policy that covers you if you accidentally injure someone or damage property) typically excludes illegal activities. If you crash into a pedestrian, crack a store window, or cause a cyclist to swerve and fall, you could be personally on the hook for all medical bills, repair costs, and legal fees. The other party’s insurance company will not care that you thought it was okay; they will see an uninsured, illegal vehicle operation.

Furthermore, if you are injured while riding illegally, your own health insurance might balk at covering the costs, arguing the injury was sustained during an illegal act. The CPSC micromobility information center lists recalls for fire and fall hazards, imagine adding “illegal operation” to an injury claim from a faulty battery.

It’s not scare talk. It’s the predictable outcome of a system that hasn’t caught up to the technology. You are assuming 100% of the financial risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are electric longboards street legal?

They can be, but only if they meet specific state definitions (like in California or Michigan) and are ridden in permitted areas. “Street legal” isn’t a universal term; it means “compliant with the vehicle code of a particular state and the ordinances of the city you’re in.” Most boards sold commercially exceed the power or speed limits of these codes, making them not street legal in regulated states.

Can you get a DUI on an electric longboard?

Yes, absolutely. California Vehicle Code explicitly prohibits operating an electrically motorized board while under the influence. Other states may apply broader DUI statutes to any vehicle operation on a public road. The penalties can be the same as a DUI in a car: fines, license suspension, and jail time. This is one area where the law is very clear and very strict.

Do I need a license or registration for an electric longboard?

In the states that have legalized them (CA, MI), no license or registration is required. However, if your board does not fit the legal definition, it could be classified as a motor vehicle, for which a license and registration would be required. Since you can’t register it, this creates a catch-22 that effectively makes it illegal.

What are the penalties for riding an illegal electric longboard?

Penalties vary wildly. They can range from a simple warning and a request to dismount, to a fine (often $100-$400), to confiscation of your board, to a misdemeanor traffic citation. In an accident scenario, penalties escalate to include liability for damages and potential criminal charges if negligence is proven.

How can I make my electric longboard legal?

You can’t “make” an illegal board legal after purchase. Legality is determined by its manufactured specifications: size, power, and speed. If your board exceeds the limits set by your state’s law (e.g., a 28 mph board in California), modifying it after the fact is unlikely to satisfy the legal definition and may raise other safety concerns. Your best bet is to sell it and buy a compliant model.

Before You Go

The question “are electric longboards illegal” doesn’t have a yes/no answer. It has a flowchart. Start with your state’s code, then layer on every local ordinance between your home and where you want to ride. The specs printed on your board’s box are its legal passport, or lack thereof.

If your research ends in a true gray area, understand the trade-off. The convenience of a quick, fun commute is balanced against the financial risk of operating without a legal shield. Your move isn’t just about riding; it’s about accepting a certain amount of unpredictable risk.

One final, practical rule: when in doubt, walk it across the risky zone. Pushing your board for a block past a “No Motorized Vehicles” sign is a lot cheaper than arguing with a cop who has the local code printed in his patrol car. The freedom of the ride is real, but it exists within a frame of laws that are still being written. Your job is to know where the frame ends.