Streets, bike lanes, and sidewalks
Not allowed No riding with the motor on.
Is it right for my kid?
Tell us your child's age and what you're thinking of buying. We'll show where they can legally ride it in Utah, today and after the rule changes on May 5, 2027.
Where your child can ride
Answer both questions above to see where your child can ride.
Answer the driver license question to finish.
Paths and trails
Not allowed No riding with the motor on, on any public path or public property.
From May 5, 2027: Unclear The 2027 rule covers roads only. A path beside a road may count as part of the road, and cities and land managers can set their own rules.
Private land
No state rule The e-bike age rules cover public places. Get the landowner's permission.
Sources: § 41-6a-1115.5, § 41-6a-1512.
Streets, bike lanes, and sidewalks
With conditions Only with a parent or guardian directly supervising, close enough to see them and talk to them.
From May 5, 2027: With conditions Only with a parent or another responsible adult supervising, or with the state's personal electric vehicle safety certificate, an online course for $10 or less.
Paths and trails
With conditions Only with a parent or guardian directly supervising.
From May 5, 2027: Unclear The 2027 rule covers roads only, so off-road paths may have no state age rule. Cities and land managers can still restrict e-bikes.
Private land
No state rule The e-bike age rules cover public places. Get the landowner's permission.
Sources: § 41-6a-1115.5, § 41-6a-1512, § 41-6a-102.
Streets, bike lanes, and sidewalks
Not allowed Riders under 16 can't operate a Class 3 e-bike.
From May 5, 2027: With conditions The Class 3 ban ends. Allowed with a parent or responsible adult supervising, or with the state's safety certificate.
Paths and trails
Not allowed Riders under 16 can't operate a Class 3 e-bike.
From May 5, 2027: Unclear The 2027 rule covers roads only, so off-road paths may have no state age rule. Cities and land managers can still restrict Class 3 e-bikes.
Private land
Not allowed Today's Class 3 ban for riders under 16 doesn't say where, so it may apply here too.
From May 5, 2027: No state rule The 2027 rules cover roads. Get the landowner's permission.
Sources: § 41-6a-1115.5, § 41-6a-1512.
Streets, bike lanes, and sidewalks
Allowed Allowed without supervision.
From May 5, 2027: With conditions Stricter than today: only with a parent or responsible adult supervising, or with the state's safety certificate.
Paths and trails
Allowed Allowed where e-bikes are permitted. Cities and land managers can restrict them.
Private land
No state rule Get the landowner's permission.
Sources: § 41-6a-1115.5, § 41-6a-1512.
Streets, bike lanes, and sidewalks
Allowed Allowed without supervision or a certificate.
Paths and trails
Allowed Allowed where e-bikes, or that class of e-bike, are permitted. Cities and land managers can restrict them.
Private land
No state rule Get the landowner's permission.
Sources: § 41-6a-1115.5.
Streets, bike lanes, and sidewalks
Not allowed Riders under 16 can't operate a high power electric device on any road. A modified or unlocked e-bike counts as one.
Paths and trails
Unclear The road ban doesn't cover off-road paths and trails, but cities and land managers can ban these devices, and many do. Check before riding.
Private land
No state rule Get the landowner's permission.
Sources: § 41-6a-102, § 41-6a-1511.
Streets, bike lanes, and sidewalks
With conditions Treated like a motorcycle: a driver license, and the Driver License Division says a motorcycle endorsement too. A DOT-rated helmet, and never on freeways.
From May 5, 2027: With conditions A class D driver license is enough for a high power electric device. A DOT-rated helmet, and never on freeways.
Paths and trails
Unclear Cities and land managers can ban these devices on paths and trails, and many do. Check before riding.
Private land
No state rule Get the landowner's permission.
Sources: § 41-6a-1511, § 53-3-202.
Private land
No state rule The OHV rules cover public land, trails, and streets. Get the landowner's permission.
OHV trails and public land
With conditions If the bike is OHV-registered, your child can reach and operate every control, has the youth OHV education certificate, and wears a DOT-rated helmet. There's no minimum age. The Division of Outdoor Recreation also says youth riders should have an adult within 300 feet.
Streets opened to OHVs
Unclear Don't plan on it. Riders under 18 without a license need an adult 18 or older within 300 feet, and a 2026 law bars riders under 16 from any road on a "high power electric device." Whether an OHV-registered e-moto counts is unclear. Some cities also require adult supervision for riders under 16.
Other streets and roads
Not allowed Only to cross the road, to load or unload, or in an emergency.
Sources: § 41-22-30, § 41-22-31, § 41-22-10.8, § 41-22-3, § 41-22-10.5, § 41-6a-1511.
Private land
No state rule The OHV rules cover public land, trails, and streets. Get the landowner's permission.
OHV trails and public land
With conditions If the bike is OHV-registered and your teen has the youth OHV education certificate and a DOT-rated helmet. The Division of Outdoor Recreation says unlicensed youth riders should have an adult within 300 feet.
Streets opened to OHVs
With conditions Only where the city opens streets to OHVs, and only with an adult 18 or older within 300 feet who can see them and give help. The certificate and helmet are still required.
Other streets and roads
Not allowed Only to cross the road, to load or unload, or in an emergency.
Sources: § 41-22-30, § 41-22-31, § 41-22-10.8, § 41-22-10.5.
Private land
No state rule The OHV rules cover public land, trails, and streets. Get the landowner's permission.
OHV trails and public land
With conditions If the bike is OHV-registered and your teen has the youth OHV education certificate and a DOT-rated helmet. The Division of Outdoor Recreation says licensed 16 and 17 year olds can ride without adult supervision.
Streets opened to OHVs
With conditions Allowed where the city opens streets to OHVs, with the certificate and a helmet. No adult supervision required.
Other streets and roads
With conditions Only if the bike is registered street-legal: a class D driver license, insurance, a plate, and the required equipment. A learner permit probably isn't enough.
Sources: § 41-22-30, § 41-22-31, § 41-6a-1509, § 53-3-202.
Also for e-bikes: everyone under 21 needs a helmet on a road. Parents and owners can be cited for letting a child break these rules, and police can hold a minor's e-bike and release it only to a parent or guardian.
Unlocking counts. An e-bike modified past its factory speed or power settings is no longer an e-bike under Utah law. It becomes a "high power electric device," treated like a motorcycle. A bike sold as easy to unlock may count too.
Also for electric dirt bikes: the bike needs OHV registration for any public land, trail, or street, with no exception for small youth bikes. The youth certificate comes from an approved online course listed on the Division of Outdoor Recreation's education page; its free hands-on classes don't accept dirt bikes. Small e-balance bikes may not count as dirt bikes at all, which is unclear, so ask the division at 801-538-5500.
The rules in brief
E-bikes
- Today: no motor use in public under 8. Ages 8 to 13 can ride a Class 1 or 2 with a parent or guardian supervising. Ages 14 and 15 can ride a Class 1 or 2 alone. No Class 3 under 16.
- From May 5, 2027: on roads, ages 8 to 15 can ride any class with adult supervision or the state's online safety certificate, and the Class 3 ban ends. Under 8 still can't ride on roads.
- Always: a helmet for everyone under 21 on a road. An unlocked or modified e-bike is banned from roads for anyone under 16.
Electric dirt bikes
- No minimum age, but your child must be able to reach and operate every control.
- On public land: OHV registration, the youth OHV education certificate, and a DOT-rated helmet for riders under 18.
- On streets opened to OHVs: unlicensed riders under 18 need an adult within 300 feet. For riders under 16 it's unclear whether street riding is allowed at all.
- Street-legal registration needs a driver license, so 16 or older.
The state's e-bike page for parents differs from the statute in a few places, such as describing supervision for "ages 8 to 14" where the law says under 14. We follow the statute.