Are Electric Scooters Legal in North Carolina?

Senate Bill 469 revised G.S. 20‑4.01 so a scooter with up to three 12‑inch wheels, a floorboard, and a 20 mph cap counts as an "electric standup scooter"—it’s not a motor vehicle, but it is a vehicle, so riders pick up the same traffic-law duties as bicyclists while enjoying the registration and insurance exemptions listed in G.S. 20‑51(18). The bill also kept scooters out of the moped definition, clarifying that no motorcycle endorsement is required, which is why most cities rely on their own ordinances to manage sidewalks, night riding, and parking. Asheville is the latest example: on August 26, 2025 the City Council amended its micromobility ordinance to legalize personal scooters, e-bikes, skateboards, and similar devices in striped bike lanes and other designated corridors, ending its previous street ban but keeping speed, parking, and courtesy rules in place to protect downtown sidewalks.