Daytona Beach, Florida Advances Strict E-Bike Rules With Age Limit, ID Requirement, and Possible Fines

Last Updated on July 16, 2026 by Kristina

Last Updated: July 16, 2026

Daytona Beach is moving closer to adopting some of Florida’s strictest local electric bike rules.

The Daytona Beach City Commission approved the first reading of a proposed ordinance on July 15, 2026. The measure would establish a minimum riding age, require e-bike operators to carry identification, prohibit certain high-powered and modified electric bikes, and introduce new rules for sidewalks, crosswalks, school zones, passengers, and pedestrians.

The ordinance is not final yet. A public hearing and final vote are scheduled for August 5, 2026. If approved at that meeting, the rules would take effect immediately.

This proposal is especially important following Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ veto of a statewide e-bike speed bill in June. With that statewide measure rejected, cities such as Daytona Beach are continuing to develop their own local electric bike regulations. Riders should review my Florida E-Bike Laws guide for more background information.

Daytona Beach E-Bike Ordinance at a Glance

Under the proposed Daytona Beach e-bike ordinance:

• Riders must be at least 11 years old.
• E-bike operators must carry government-issued photo identification.
• E-bikes with motors producing more than 750 watts would be prohibited on city roads and sidewalks.
• E-bikes with throttle assistance above 20 mph would also be prohibited.
• E-bikes with removed pedals or modified propulsion systems would not be allowed on roads or sidewalks.
• Manufacturer class labels must remain attached and accurate.
• Riders must yield to pedestrians and give an audible warning before passing.
• E-bikes must slow to pedestrian speed near crosswalks, intersections, and active school zones.
• Passengers are only allowed when the e-bike has a designated passenger seat.
• Violations could result in fines and, in certain circumstances, impoundment.

The proposal would also update Daytona Beach’s rules for traditional bicycles, motorized scooters, and motorized pedicabs.

Riders Under 11 Would Be Prohibited

One of the most significant parts of the proposed law is the minimum age requirement.

No one under 11 years old would be permitted to operate an electric bike on a Daytona Beach roadway or sidewalk. This would apply regardless of the e-bike’s class or maximum assisted speed.

Florida law allows local governments to establish minimum ages for e-bike operators, so Daytona Beach has the authority to adopt a local age restriction. The city’s proposal does not appear to prohibit a child under 11 from riding as a passenger, provided the e-bike has an appropriate passenger seat and meets the applicable safety requirements.

Anyone under 16 riding or operating a bicycle would also need to wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet. A parent or guardian could not knowingly allow a child under 16 to ride without one.

Riders Would Have to Carry Photo Identification

The ordinance would require anyone operating an e-bike on a roadway or sidewalk to carry government-issued photo identification and show it when lawfully requested by a police officer.

Acceptable identification could include:

• A driver’s license
• A state identification card
• A passport
• A military identification card
• A school identification card
• Another comparable government-issued ID showing the rider’s name, photograph, and date of birth

This requirement would apply to adults and younger riders. It does not mean riders would need a driver’s license specifically, but they would need one of the accepted forms of identification.

E-Bikes Over 750 Watts Would Be Prohibited

The proposal defines an electric bicycle as a bicycle or tricycle with fully operable pedals, a seat or saddle, and an electric motor producing no more than 750 watts.

E-bikes producing more than 750 watts would be prohibited from operating on all Daytona Beach roadways and sidewalks.

This portion of the ordinance is aimed largely at high-powered electric motorcycles and e-motos that may look like electric bicycles but do not meet Florida’s legal e-bike definition.

Some bikes are advertised as e-bikes even though they have 1,000-watt, 1,500-watt, or more powerful motors and can reach motorcycle-like speeds. Under the proposed Daytona Beach law, those vehicles could not legally be operated as ordinary e-bikes on public roads or sidewalks.

Throttles Would Be Limited to 20 MPH

The ordinance would also prohibit an e-bike with throttle assistance above 20 mph.

This does not mean Daytona Beach is banning every e-bike capable of reaching 28 mph.

A legal Class 3 e-bike provides motor assistance while the rider pedals and stops assisting at 28 mph. Class 3 e-bikes generally do not use a throttle above 20 mph.

The proposed ordinance specifically targets throttle-assisted operation above 20 mph. A compliant Class 3 pedal-assist e-bike with a motor rated at 750 watts or less could still meet the ordinance’s definition of an e-bike.

The distinction is important because some electric bikes have both:

• A throttle limited to 20 mph
• Pedal assistance that continues up to 28 mph

Those models may still qualify, provided they meet all other legal requirements and have not been modified.

Modified E-Bikes Could Be Banned From Public Roads and Sidewalks

Daytona Beach’s proposal would prohibit e-bikes that have had their pedals removed or their propulsion systems modified.

The ordinance specifically mentions both physical and software modifications.

This could include changes intended to:

• Increase the bike’s motor-assisted speed
• Unlock a faster throttle
• Increase motor power
• Bypass the manufacturer’s speed limiter
• Convert an e-bike into a pedal-free electric motorcycle

The wording is broad, however, and it may need clarification before the final vote. Not every software setting or replacement component turns an electric bike into an illegal vehicle. Enforcement should focus on modifications that change the bike’s legal power, throttle, or speed classification.

Manufacturer Class Labels Would Be Required

Every e-bike used on a Daytona Beach road or sidewalk would need to display its original manufacturer classification label.

The label normally identifies:

• The e-bike class
• The motor wattage
• The maximum motor-assisted speed

Tampering with the label or changing the bike’s performance without properly updating its classification would be prohibited.

Riders buying used electric bikes should pay attention to this requirement. A missing class label could create problems even when the owner believes the bike is otherwise legal.

E-Bikes Would Have to Slow Near Crosswalks and Schools

The proposed ordinance would require e-bike riders to slow to pedestrian speed:

• Within an active posted school zone when the lights are flashing
• Within 50 feet of a marked crosswalk
• Within 50 feet of an intersection corner

The draft defines pedestrian speed as no more than 5 mph or slow enough for the rider to yield and stop within a short distance to avoid a conflict.

Riders would also need to yield to pedestrians and provide an audible signal before overtaking or passing someone.

An audible warning could normally include a bicycle bell, horn, or clear verbal warning such as “passing on your left.”

Passenger Restrictions Would Apply

Passengers would not be allowed on an e-bike unless the bicycle is specifically equipped with a designated passenger seat and meets the applicable safety standards.

That means riders could not legally carry someone:

• Sitting on the handlebars
• Standing on the rear axle
• Sitting on an ordinary rear rack not designed for passengers
• Sharing a single-rider saddle

Cargo e-bikes, utility bikes, and long-tail e-bikes designed to carry passengers could still qualify when properly equipped with approved seating and safety equipment.

Traditional Bicycles Would Face Sidewalk Rules Too

The ordinance is not limited to electric bikes.

Traditional bicycles and e-bikes would be prohibited from operating on public sidewalks located in business districts.

Bicycles could continue to use sidewalks in residential districts, but riders would need to operate carefully, yield to pedestrians and crossing vehicles, and avoid riding side by side with another bicycle.

All bicycles used at night would also need a white front light visible from at least 500 feet and a red rear light and reflector visible from at least 600 feet.

Violations Could Bring Fines and Impound Fees

Violations of the bicycle and e-bike rules could carry a civil penalty of up to $100 for each offense.

The proposal also contains impoundment provisions. An impounded ordinary bicycle could require a $25 fee to recover, while an impounded e-bike, motorized scooter, or micromobility device could require a $200 fee.

The draft does not appear to make impoundment automatic for every e-bike violation. Police would have impoundment authority in circumstances described by the ordinance, including when a device is abandoned, damaged, improperly parked, inoperable, or presents a public safety hazard.

Local Businesses Raise Concerns

Some local residents and business owners support stronger enforcement because of complaints involving reckless riding, high speeds, ignored traffic signals, and conflicts with pedestrians.

However, businesses that sell or rent electric bikes are also concerned about the possible effects.

An employee at a Daytona Beach Shores business that rents e-bikes told Spectrum News 13 that increasing regulations could eventually cause the company to remove e-bikes from its rental fleet. Although that business is outside Daytona Beach city limits, customers may ride rented bikes into the city and become subject to the new restrictions.

The city’s business impact statement did not provide a specific estimate of how many businesses could be affected.

What Happens Next?

The ordinance has only passed its first reading.

Daytona Beach has scheduled the public hearing and final action for August 5, 2026. Commissioners could:

• Approve the ordinance as written
• Amend parts of the proposal
• Delay the vote
• Reject the ordinance

If the ordinance receives final approval, it is written to take effect immediately upon adoption. Riders should therefore wait for the final vote before treating these proposed requirements as current Daytona Beach law.

My Take

I understand why Daytona Beach wants to address high-powered e-motos, reckless riding, unsafe passenger carrying, and electric bikes that have been modified to travel far beyond legal e-bike speeds.

A bike with no working pedals, a powerful motor, and a throttle capable of motorcycle-like speeds should not automatically be treated the same as a normal Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3 electric bicycle. Rules requiring riders to yield to pedestrians, use proper passenger seats, keep manufacturer labels attached, and slow down in crowded areas are reasonable.

However, parts of this ordinance may be too broad or difficult to enforce consistently.

The prohibition on any physical or software modification needs a clearer definition. Riders routinely replace controllers, displays, motors, tires, and other components for legitimate repairs. The city should specify that prohibited modifications are those that increase the bike beyond legal power, speed, or throttle limits.

I also question how riders and police will consistently measure whether an e-bike is within 50 feet of every marked crosswalk or intersection corner. Gov. DeSantis raised a similar enforceability concern when he vetoed Florida’s proposed statewide 10 mph rule near pedestrians. Daytona Beach’s proposal would require an even slower speed of approximately 5 mph in certain areas.

My biggest concern is making sure these rules focus on genuinely dangerous behavior and illegal electric motorcycles rather than treating every person on a legal e-bike as a problem.

Daytona Beach should protect pedestrians and hold reckless riders accountable. At the same time, the city should make the final ordinance clear enough that responsible riders, rental businesses, tourists, and police officers can all understand exactly what is legal.

For more news on electric bikes click here

External Sources

City of Daytona Beach – Proposed Amendment to Chapter 94, Traffic and Motor Vehicles
https://codb.civicweb.net/document/227081/Police%20Department%20-%20Amendment%20to%20Municipal%20Ordi.pdf?handle=A6149848C72C46A9AB9C977C8C28D98C

City of Daytona Beach – July 15, 2026 City Commission Meeting
https://codb.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Id=3456

Spectrum News 13 – Daytona Beach Moves Forward With Motorized Pedicab Ban, E-Bike Regulations
https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2026/07/16/local-shop-warn-proposed-daytona-beach-e-bike-rules-could-phase-out-rentals

WKMG News 6 / ClickOrlando – Daytona Beach Proposal Bans Certain E-Bikes, Sets Minimum Age to Be on City Roads and Sidewalks
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/07/15/daytona-beach-proposal-bans-certain-e-bikes-sets-minimum-age-to-be-on-city-roads-and-sidewalks/

Florida Statutes Section 316.20655 – Electric Bicycle Regulations
https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399%2F0316%2FSections%2F0316.20655.html

Florida Governor’s Office – Veto Letter for CS/SB 382
https://flgov.com/eog/sites/default/files/shared/2026/06/Veto%20Letter_SB%20382.pdf