Riding an e-bike in unincorporated Maricopa County could soon come with real financial risk. A draft ordinance headed for a public hearing next month would ban wheelies, outlaw cellphone use while riding, and impose fines of up to $250 for first-time violations of new e-bike and e-scooter rules.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors formally scheduled the hearing for November 4 to take public testimony on the proposed countywide ordinance, according to YourValley.net. As reported by the Sacramento Bee, the board meeting where the hearing was set will begin at 9:30 a.m. at 205 W. Jefferson St. in Phoenix. Unincorporated areas of the county currently lack dedicated local e-bike safety regulations, leaving riders there without the kind of rules already in place in nearby cities.
What the Draft Ordinance Would Actually Do
The proposal would ban anyone under age 16 from operating a Class 3 electric bike, the fastest category capable of motor-assisted speeds up to 28 mph, per the Sacramento Bee's reporting. Riders under 18 would be required to wear helmets while on Class 3 e-bikes, and those bikes would be barred from sidewalks altogether. Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, along with e-scooters, could still be ridden on sidewalks as long as riders yield to pedestrians and stay at or below 15 mph.
Where sidewalks or dedicated bike lanes don't exist, riders could use the roadway but couldn't exceed the posted vehicle speed limit, the outlet reports. The draft also bans cellphone use while riding and prohibits popping wheelies. Parents or guardians could be held accountable for knowingly allowing their children to violate the rules.
Fines Escalate for Repeat Violations
Fines Escalate for Repeat Violations First-time offenders would face a civil traffic penalty of no more than $250, the Sacramento Bee reports. A second violation within a year of the first would carry a minimum fine of $150, and a third offense would carry a minimum fine of $200.
Maricopa County Board Chair Kate Brophy McGee said in September that the draft ordinance was authored in partnership with the Maricopa County Attorney and the Sheriff following local crashes involving youth, according to a county bulletin. Brophy McGee also emphasized that the ordinance was written to explicitly protect mobility access for seniors and individuals with disabilities who rely on lower-speed electric devices.
State Law Leaves Gaps for Local Governments
Arizona has regulated e-bikes at the state level since 2018, when lawmakers enacted Arizona Revised Statute § 28-819, which treats electric bicycles with motors under 750 watts as traditional bicycles exempt from state motor vehicle titling, registration, licensing, and insurance requirements. That statute also defaults Class 3 e-bikes to being prohibited on multiuse and bicycle paths unless they're adjacent to a roadway or local jurisdictions explicitly authorize otherwise, according to TXED E-Bike. Local rules in the Valley address issues such as sidewalk speeds and age limits.
Paradise Valley police guidance describes e-bike specifications and says noncompliant bikes require a motorcycle license, insurance and MVD registration, plus an ADOT-provided license plate, according to the Paradise Valley Police Department.
Neighboring Cities Already Moved First
Maricopa County's proposed rules would bring unincorporated areas in line with municipalities that have already acted. Scottsdale prohibits riders under 16 from operating Class 3 e-bikes and bans Class 3 models from city sidewalks, while Tempe capped sidewalk e-bike speeds at 10 mph, per TXED E-Bike's regional comparison. Chandler's City Council went further in June, setting a 16-year age minimum for Class 3 e-bikes, banning Class 3 models from sidewalks and shared-use paths, and capping Class 1 and Class 2 speeds at 15 mph on shared paths, as Hoodline previously reported.
The push for tighter rules comes amid rising national injury numbers. A U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report published in April 2026 covers micromobility-related deaths and injuries from 2017 through 2024, according to the CPSC. An ERideHero analysis of federal emergency room data found estimated U.S. e-bike injuries exceeded 100,000 in 2025, with emergency department visits among children 14 and younger surging 167% in a single year to 17,206.
The November 4 hearing in Phoenix is intended to take public comments on the proposed ordinance.
