SKATEBOARDING

Grand Rapids City Code tit. IX, ch. 165

in effect

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.601 Purpose.

Sec. 9.601. - Purpose. The City Commission finds that skateboards, long boards, roller skates and inline skates are acceptable modes of transportation. The City Commission further finds that persons operating skateboards, long boards, roller skates and inline skates downtown create the potential for significant property damage and personal injury to themselves and others, when their conduct is not regulated. The City Commission finds these problems and concerns are most acute in the downtown area because of heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic and because the unique physical features in the downtown area are attractive to persons using skateboards, long boards, roller skates and inline skates. Thus, the purpose of this Chapter is to allow skateboarding, long boarding, roller skating and inline skating in the downtown area as a mode of transportation, while simultaneously limiting the risk of property damage and personal injury associated with skateboards, long boards, roller skates and inline skates by prohibiting their use anywhere in the downtown area except as specified in this Chapter. (Ord. No. 2015-24, § 1, 5-12-15)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.602 Prohibited Conduct.

Sec. 9.602. - Prohibited Conduct. No person shall ride, propel, push or otherwise operate a skateboard, long board, roller skates or inline skates anywhere within the area described in Section 9.604. This prohibition is subject to the exceptions set forth in Section 9.603. (Ord. No. 2015-24, § 1, 5-12-15)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.603 Exceptions.

Sec. 9.603. - Exceptions. Notwithstanding the prohibitions contained in the foregoing Section, riding, propelling, pushing or otherwise operating a skateboard, long board, roller skates or inline skates is expressly permitted as follows: (a) Persons under the age of 15 may ride, propel, push or otherwise operate a skateboard, long board, roller skates or inline skates on any public sidewalk anywhere within the area described in Section 9.604.; and (b) Persons age 15 or older may ride, propel, push or otherwise operate a skateboard, long board, roller skates or inline skates on or in any public street or alley anywhere within the area described in Section 9.604.; and (c) Persons may ride, propel, push or otherwise operate a skateboard, long board, roller skates or inline skates in facilities specifically designated for use of skateboards; and (d) Persons may ride, propel, push or otherwise operate a skateboard, long board, roller skates or inline skates on any private property where the owner has given permission for such use. (Ord. No. 2015-24, § 1, 5-12-15)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.604 Area in Which Prohibition Applies.

Sec. 9.604. - Area in Which Prohibition Applies. The area of the City in which the prohibition of Section 9.602. applies is the Downtown Improvement District as described in Section 1.960 of the City Code, except that portion of the Downtown Improvement District that is north of I-196. (Ord. No. 2015-24, § 1, 5-12-15)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.605 Rights and Responsibilities.

Sec. 9.605. - Rights and Responsibilities. Persons operating skateboards, long boards, roller skates, and inline skates within the City of Grand Rapids shall possess the same rights and responsibilities pursuant to City Code as the operator of a bicycle possesses under the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code and City Code. (Ord. No. 2015-24, § 1, 5-12-15)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.606 Reflective Clothing and Lights.

Sec. 9.606. - Reflective Clothing and Lights. No person shall ride, propel, push or otherwise operate a skateboard, long board, roller skates or inline skates during limited visibility conditions or between the hours of sunset and sunrise, unless such person: (a) Displays a white light on the front of his or her person above the waistline, with that light plainly discernable from a distance of not less than three hundred (300) feet ahead; and (b) Wears reflective clothing above the waistline, as the outermost layer of clothing. (Ord. No. 2015-24, § 1, 5-12-15)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.607 Enforcement.

Sec. 9.607. - Enforcement. This Chapter may be enforced by any police officer or by any other City employee authorized to issue appearance tickets for violation of the City Code and by any other City employee specifically authorized by the City Manager to issue appearance tickets for violation of this Chapter. (Ord. No. 2015-24, § 1, 5-12-15)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.608 Violation a Civil Infraction.

Sec. 9.608. - Violation a Civil Infraction. A violation of this Chapter shall be a municipal civil infraction punishable by a fine as established in Chapter 170 of the City Code. (Ord. No. 2015-24, § 1, 5-12-15)

Grand Rapids City Code § 9.609 Confiscation of Property.

Sec. 9.609. - Confiscation of Property. No person empowered to enforce this Chapter shall confiscate or impound any skateboard, long board, roller skates or inline skates from any person who is riding, propelling, pushing or otherwise operating a skateboard, long board, roller skates or inline skates in the downtown area, during enforcement of this Chapter. (Ord. No. 2015-24, § 1, 5-12-15)

Source: City of Grand Rapids, Michigan, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mi/grand_rapids/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIOLRE_CH165SKFetched: 11/7/2026