Electric Scooters, E-Bikes & Hoverboards in Dakota County: The Rules Parents Ask About
As a driving school, we field a lot of questions that aren't about cars - and lately, the most common one is some version of: "Is my kid actually allowed to ride that thing on the road?" Electric scooters, e-bikes, and hoverboards are everywhere now, and the rules are genuinely confusing because they're different for each type of device, and a few cities add their own twist on top of Minnesota law.
Here's the plain-English guide, verified against the actual Minnesota statutes and our local city rules. Think of it this way: Minnesota state law is the floor, and a few Dakota County cities add a little on top. One note up front: this covers the rules of the road, not legal advice. When in doubt, check your city's website or the posted signs on a trail.
The Quick Version
Stand-up electric scooter: min age 12 | helmet required under 18 | NO sidewalks (except to enter/leave property) | motor capped ~15 mph
E-bike (Class 1/2/3): min age 15 | no state helmet law | sidewalks OK outside business districts (unless the city restricts it) | 20 mph (Class 1/2) or 28 mph (Class 3)
Hoverboard / e-skateboard / OneWheel: no state law on age, helmet, or speed | not clearly legal anywhere - check your city
Electric Scooters (The Stand-Up Kind)
Minnesota calls these "motorized foot scooters," and the rules are the clearest of the three:
Age: must be at least 12 to ride.
Helmet: required for anyone under 18.
Speed: by law, these are built to top out around 15 mph - worth knowing, because many scooters sold online go 30+ mph, and souping one up doesn't make it more legal.
Sidewalks: no. This surprises people - you generally cannot ride an electric scooter on a sidewalk, except briefly to get to or from adjacent property.
Where you can ride: on the road (keep right), and on bike lanes, bike paths, and trails - unless a city or sign says motorized devices aren't allowed.
Passengers: no - one rider only.
At night: you need a headlight and a taillight.
License/insurance: none required.
E-Bikes are a Different kind of Animal
Here's the big one people get wrong: an e-bike is not a scooter under the law. An e-bike is a true bicycle - it has pedals and a seat - and it follows the bicycle rules, which are different:
Three classes: Class 1 (pedal-assist, cuts off at 20 mph), Class 2 (throttle, cuts off at 20 mph), and Class 3 (pedal-assist, cuts off at 28 mph).
Age: you must be at least 15 to ride any e-bike.
Helmet: Minnesota has no statewide helmet law for bikes or e-bikes (we still strongly recommend one).
Sidewalks: unlike scooters, e-bikes can use sidewalks - except in a business district, and unless your city restricts it (some do - see below).
Trails: Class 1 and 2 are generally allowed on bike/shared-use paths unless prohibited; Class 3 can be restricted by the local authority, and some park trails limit the faster classes.
License/insurance: none required.
Hoverboards, Electric Skateboards, and Onewheels
Straight answer: Minnesota has no specific law for these. A hoverboard, electric skateboard, or OneWheel doesn't fit the legal definition of a scooter (no handlebars) or an e-bike (no pedals), so the state simply doesn't address them.
That does NOT mean "ride anywhere." It means there's no statewide green light, and the rules fall to your city's sidewalk, street, and park ordinances. Practically: keep them off public roadways, expect that many sidewalks and trails don't allow them, and check your city before assuming it's fine. A few cities do spell it out - for example, Prior Lake expressly allows hoverboards, e-scooters, and skateboards on its paved park paths (up to 15 mph). That's exactly why "check your city" is the real answer.
The Part that Changes by City: Parks, Sidewalks, and Trails
Here's what most sites won't tell you: most of our cities don't have their own electric-scooter ordinance - they adopt Minnesota state law wholesale, so what you read on their websites is usually the state rules restated. The real local variation shows up in a few cities' park and trail rules. Here's what we verified:
Apple Valley: No separate scooter ordinance - follows Minnesota state law (scooters off sidewalks; bike paths OK).
Eagan: Posted city guidance: no scooters or e-bikes on concrete sidewalks - asphalt paths only.
Rosemount: Adopts state law citywide; motorized devices in parks limited to designated roads/trails.
Lakeville: Follows state law; posted trail policy limits Class 2 & 3 e-bikes on the West Lake Marion mountain-bike trail (Class 1 OK).
Burnsville: Has its own ordinance - e-scooters & e-bikes allowed on multi-use trails at 15 mph or less (yield to pedestrians), but NOT on pedestrian sidewalks or undesignated park land. Possible all-ages helmet rule - see note below.
Farmington: No separate scooter ordinance - follows Minnesota state law.
Prior Lake (Scott County): City park code expressly allows bikes, scooters, hoverboards & skateboards on paved park paths up to 15 mph.
Savage (Scott County): Follows state law; city parks limit motorized devices to roads/designated areas - check posted signs.
A note on Burnsville helmets: Burnsville's code requires motorcycle-grade helmets for "recreational motor vehicles" of all ages. The code doesn't spell out whether a stand-up e-scooter legally counts as one - so if you ride in Burnsville, it's worth a quick call to the city to confirm the helmet rule before assuming the state's under-18-only rule applies.
The takeaway: in Eagan, keep off concrete sidewalks; in Lakeville, leave the throttle e-bike off the mountain-bike trail; in Burnsville, mind the helmet rule and stay off pedestrian sidewalks; everywhere else, the state rules are your guide - and always obey posted signs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are electric scooters legal in Minnesota? Yes - as a "motorized foot scooter," ridden under the rules above.
Can you ride on the sidewalk? Scooters: no. E-bikes: yes, outside business districts and unless your city restricts it (Eagan does).
How old do you have to be? Scooter: 12. E-bike: 15. Hoverboards: no state age rule.
Do you need a helmet? Scooter riders under 18: yes. E-bikes: not required by state law (but wear one).
How fast can they go legally? Scooters are built for about 15 mph; e-bikes cut off at 20 mph (Class 1/2) or 28 mph (Class 3).
Do you need a license or insurance? No - not for scooters or e-bikes.
Can you get a DUI on a scooter or e-bike? Be careful here. Minnesota courts have held that Segways and mobility scooters are NOT "motor vehicles" for DWI purposes - but the law has not squarely settled whether a motorized foot scooter or an e-bike counts, and because both have motors, a rider can still be stopped and charged. Bottom line: never ride any of these impaired. If you're facing a charge, talk to a lawyer.
Are hoverboards street legal? There's no state law making them street legal, so treat them as not allowed on roads, and check your city for sidewalk/trail rules.
Why We Care About This
We teach teenagers to share the road safely - and scooters, e-bikes, and the cars around them are all part of that picture now. Knowing these rules keeps your kid legal, and more importantly, safe. If your teen is getting ready for a permit or license, that's what we do all day, right here in the south metro.
Enroll with South Metro Driving School
Written by Chris Scanlon, Program Director & Owner of South Metro Driving School
SouthMetroDrivingSchool.com — Info@SouthMetroDS.com — 612-552-1929
South Metro Driving School is a Minnesota State-Certified Driving School serving the south Twin Cities Metro — with core markets in Apple Valley, Rosemount, and Eagan, and growing service in Farmington, Lakeville, and Hastings.
This article reflects Chris's personal experience running a licensed Minnesota driving school and independent research from official Minnesota state and city sources, current as of September 2026. It's meant as a helpful starting point, not legal advice - rules change and cities differ, so always confirm the current requirements with Minnesota DVS (dps.mn.gov) and your local city before you ride or drive.
Did you find this information helpful? Explore our other guides on permits, road tests, and getting your license — and if we've earned it, we'd be grateful for a 5-Star Google Review.
