Centennial, CO Restricts Class 3 E-Bikes on Sidewalks and Trails

Last Updated on August 23, 2026 by Kristina

CENTENNIAL, Colorado – August 23, 2026 – Centennial has adopted new rules restricting where Class 3 electric bikes and higher-powered electric vehicles can be operated, with the regulations taking effect immediately after a final City Council vote on August 18.

Under Ordinance 2026-O-13, Class 3 e-bikes are generally prohibited on bicycle and pedestrian paths, multi-use trails, sidewalks, and park trails in Centennial. However, the ordinance includes exceptions for routes that function as designated bike lanes alongside a roadway and for paths or trails where official signs specifically allow Class 3 e-bikes. Public-roadway and designated on-street bike-lane access remains allowed under applicable law. Colorado riders can also review my Colorado e-bike laws guide and Electric Bike News archive for related updates.

My guide to Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 e-bikes also explains the differences between the classes.

Current Status: Adopted and Effective

Centennial City Council passed Ordinance 2026-O-13 on second and final reading on August 18, 2026.

Council also approved an emergency declaration by a supermajority vote. That made the ordinance effective immediately rather than allowing the normal 30-day referendum period. The city published notice of final passage on August 19 and announced the regulations publicly on August 20.

This is current Centennial law, not a pending proposal.

What Centennial’s New Class 3 Rules Do

The ordinance says a person may not operate a Class 3 electric-assisted bicycle on a bicycle or pedestrian path, multi-use trail, sidewalk, or park trail within Centennial unless one of two exceptions applies.

The first exception covers a path or trail located within or directly adjacent to a public roadway or highway when it functions as a designated bike lane.

The second allows Class 3 e-bikes where official signs at the trail or path entrance expressly designate the route as open to them.

The ordinance specifically preserves the right to operate a Class 3 e-bike on public roadways and designated on-street bicycle lanes, consistent with state law.

That distinction matters. Centennial has restricted Class 3 trail and sidewalk access, but it has not banned Class 3 e-bikes citywide.

District-Managed Trails May Depend on Posted Notice

Not every trail or park within Centennial is managed directly by the city.

The ordinance addresses property managed by park and recreation districts and says a prohibition established under the ordinance, or an aligned district rule, is not enforceable on district-managed property until official notice has been posted at public access points.

For riders, that makes posted signs especially important. A trail running through Centennial may be managed by a separate recreation district even though it is physically inside city boundaries.

Class 1 and Class 2 E-Bikes Are Treated Differently

Centennial’s new Class 3 restriction does not impose the same blanket path restriction on ordinary Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes.

The city describes an electric-assisted bicycle as a vehicle with two or three wheels, fully operable pedals, and an electric motor of no more than 750W. A Class 3 e-bike provides assistance only while the rider is pedaling and stops assisting at 28 mph.

The city’s public guidance says lower-class e-bikes generally remain permitted where conventional bicycles are allowed, unless another rule or posted restriction applies.

The Ordinance Also Targets Electric Motorcycles

A large part of the new ordinance addresses higher-powered electric vehicles that may look similar to e-bikes but do not meet the legal definition of an electric-assisted bicycle.

Centennial defines an electric motorcycle as a two- or three-wheeled electric vehicle designed to be ridden astride or seated that also meets at least one of these conditions:

• It lacks functional operable pedals.
• Its electric motor exceeds 750W.
• It can exceed 28 mph when powered solely by the motor.

The definition includes electric dirt bikes and electric off-highway motorcycles.

Simply adding pedals to an electric motorcycle does not change how Centennial classifies it.

Electric Motorcycle Riders Face Additional Requirements

The ordinance says a person operating an electric motorcycle or low-power electric motorcycle on a public roadway must meet applicable registration, driver’s-license, insurance, and equipment requirements.

A rider must be at least 16 to operate an electric motorcycle or low-power electric motorcycle on a public roadway within Centennial.

The city also generally prohibits high-performance electric vehicles from city-managed property such as sidewalks, multi-use paths, trails, parks, open space, recreation facilities, and similar public areas. Streets and bicycle lanes on streets are excluded from the ordinance’s definition of city-managed property.

Helmet Requirement Is More Specific Than It First Appears

Centennial’s public announcement summarizes the ordinance as creating helmet requirements for riders under 18, but the enacted language is more specific.

A person under 18 operating a Class 3 e-bike, electric motorcycle, or low-power electric motorcycle on a public roadway must wear a conforming protective helmet. Passengers are also required to wear a conforming helmet.

The ordinance does not create a new blanket helmet rule for every rider under 18 on every type of e-bike.

What Happens to Modified E-Bikes?

The ordinance also addresses electric-assisted bicycles that have been modified.

It prohibits operating an e-bike on city-managed property when the bicycle has been modified in a way that alters its function as a legal e-bike class and a peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe the modification caused it to exceed the assisted speed of its labeled class.

A vehicle being operated in violation of that provision can be subject to impoundment.

That is more specific than simply banning modifications. The rule focuses on operating a modified bike that no longer performs within its labeled class limits.

Fines, Impoundment and Parental Liability

Violations can result in municipal traffic penalties, and certain prohibited vehicles or modified e-bikes may be subject to impoundment.

The ordinance also establishes a $250 parental-liability fine in specified circumstances when a parent or legal guardian knowingly permits a minor under 18 to commit certain violations involving electric motorcycles, low-power electric motorcycles, off-highway vehicles, or modified e-bikes.

That parental-liability provision should not be read as an automatic $250 fine every time a minor violates an e-bike rule.

Why Centennial Adopted the Rules

The ordinance says city officials were concerned about speed differences and conflicts between high-powered electric vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians, and other trail users.

The city also cited enforcement problems involving vehicles that resemble e-bikes but have non-functional pedals or performance that places them outside Colorado’s e-bike definitions.

Centennial developed the regulations with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office and area park and recreation districts in an effort to create more consistent rules across public spaces.

Who Is Most Affected?

Class 3 riders will notice the clearest change.

A legal pedal-assist e-bike capable of assisting up to 28 mph can still be ridden on Centennial streets and designated on-street bike lanes, but riders cannot assume it is permitted on sidewalks, multi-use paths, or park trails.

Owners of motorcycle-style electric vehicles also need to pay close attention to motor power, motor-only speed, pedals, licensing, registration, insurance, and minimum-age requirements.

The ordinance makes the legal classification of the vehicle increasingly important.

📰 How This Story Was Verified

This report is based on available official documents, agency statements, meeting records, court filings, or other primary sources, with reliable reporting used for additional context. I clearly distinguish proposals from rules that have been finally approved or taken effect.

For this report, I reviewed Centennial Ordinance 2026-O-13, the city’s notice of final passage, and Centennial’s August 20 public announcement.

My Take

Centennial’s ordinance is a good example of why the words Class 3 e-bike, electric motorcycle, and modified e-bike cannot be used interchangeably.

The city did not ban Class 3 e-bikes. It restricted where they can be ridden while preserving roadway and on-street bike-lane access and allowing limited trail exceptions.

That is an important distinction for riders.

It also shows why statewide e-bike law is only part of the picture. A bike can qualify as a legal Class 3 e-bike under Colorado law while still facing additional access restrictions imposed by a city, park district, or trail manager.

Before riding a Class 3 bike through Centennial, I would check both the route and the posted signs rather than assuming every trail follows the same rule.

Sources

• City of Centennial – Ordinance 2026-O-13
• City of Centennial – Legal notices and final passage information
• City of Centennial – August 20 announcement on e-bike and electric-vehicle regulations