Electric Scooter Laws in New Hampshire – Complete Guide 2025
Summary New Hampshire Electric Scooter Law
- Classification: No statewide definition; varies by municipality
- Min age: Varies (typically 16+ where regulated)
- Helmet required: No statewide requirement; some cities require under 18
- Max speed: No statewide limit; cities typically set 15-20 mph
- License: Not required
- Registration: Required in some cities (e.g., Durham, Manchester)
- Sidewalk riding: Generally prohibited in regulated areas
- Bike lane access: Varies by city
- Scooter sharing present: Limited in select cities
- Last checked: September 15, 2025
What New Hampshire riders need to know
New Hampshire hasn’t yet created any statewide electric scooter legislation, even though we are in 2025. This leaves regulation entirely up to local jurisdictions. Making for the infamous patchwork of laws that we’ve seen across plenty of states that are behind the ball on the matter. Most populated areas have developed their own ordinances, while rural communities often haven’t addressed scooters at all.
The lack of state framework means riders need to research local laws wherever they choose to ride in New Hampshire. Cities like Durham and Manchester do have comprehensive regulations with annoying registration requirements, while smaller towns treat scooters under existing vehicle or pedestrian laws.
Official legal framework
House Bill 1445 was introduced in 2024 to “require that electric scooters and electric unicycles be regulated as motor vehicles”, but this legislation did not pass. Currently, no specific state statutes govern electric scooter operation in New Hampshire.
The absence of state-level regulation means cities operate under their general police powers to regulate traffic and public safety. This has led to a sea of different takes, from comprehensive registration systems to even complete prohibition in some areas, as scooters don’t clearly fit into any existing category of vehicles.
Where you can ride
Since regulations are entirely municipal, riding locations depend completely on your specific city or town.
Roadways: Durham allows motorized devices on public roadways at speeds “not greater than is reasonable and prudent” with a maximum of 15 mph. Cities that have laws on the books typically allow road riding on streets at lower speed limits.
Bike lanes: Some cities allow full bike lane access, others restrict it during peak hours, but most haven’t addressed it at all.
Sidewalks: Durham “strictly prohibits” operation on sidewalks. Most cities with scooter regulations follow this pattern, prohibiting sidewalk riding for pedestrian safety reasons.
Trails and parks: I would argue if the state and cities are behind trails and parks will default to the cities ordinance, or just prohibit electric scooters throughout.
Equipment & vehicle requirements
Requirements vary dramatically by city. Durham requires motorized devices be “equipped with a brake, lights, and bell or audible alert” and specifies lighting requirements for night operation: “a lamp emitting a white light visible from a distance of 300 feet in front” and “a red reflector on the rear visible from a distance of 300 feet.”
Manchester has detailed equipment requirements under Chapter 75 of their municipal code, covering everything from brakes to noise levels.
Cities without specific regulations don’t set technical requirements.
Rider requirements
Age restrictions: Durham prohibits use “by individuals under the age of 16”. Manchester requires licenses for scooter operation, with applications submitted to the police chief. Which means riders need to be 15-16 depending on when you can get a permit.
Helmet laws: No statewide helmet requirement. Assume that if the state wants bicycle riders under 18 to wear a helmet, the same goes for electric scooter riders too.
Licensing: No driver’s license required for e-scooter operation in areas that have addressed this, though some cities have permit systems.
Registration: Durham requires motorized device registration with applications submitted to the police chief. Registration fees are set by the town administrator and listed in their fee schedule. You also need to pay the annual state electric vehicle fee by having your electric scooter classified as a motorized vehicle like they do in Durham.
Parking, storage & riding etiquette
Durham has specific parking restrictions: devices may only be parked “in areas specifically designated and marked by the Town” or areas with written approval from the town. Improperly parked devices can be impounded after a two-hour notification period.
Cities with scooter sharing programs typically have designated parking areas and restrictions on blocking pedestrian access or ADA-compliant routes.
Enforcement & penalties
Durham imposes fines “not more than $100 for the first offense and $150 for the second offense,” with third violations resulting in harsher penalties and impoundment.
Most cities treat violations as civil infractions rather than moving violations that affect driving records. Common violations include underage riding, improper parking, and operating on prohibited surfaces.
Insurance & liability
Due to the states lack of framework there are no insurance requirements. However, riders remain liable for accidents and damage they cause, regardless of whether insurance is mandated.
Your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance may provide coverage, but this varies by policy and insurance provider. Some policies exclude motorized vehicle incidents, even for low-speed devices.
Local exceptions to state law
Durham: Comprehensive ordinance requiring registration, prohibiting riders under 16, mandating equipment including lights and brakes, setting 15 mph speed limits, and establishing detailed parking and impoundment procedures.
Manchester: Chapter 75 creates a licensing system requiring applications to the police chief, with detailed operational requirements.
Concord: No specific scooter ordinances identified as of September 2025.
Portsmouth: Has developed regulations for scooter sharing operations but specific details weren’t available in current research.
Most smaller New Hampshire communities haven’t developed scooter-specific ordinances yet, leaving riders to follow general traffic laws as they face unclear legal status.
Special circumstances
University areas: University of New Hampshire has its own regulations for “multi-use trails, sidewalks or roadways” that differ from Durham town ordinances.
Winter operations: New Hampshire’s harsh winters make scooter operation impractical from late November through March in most areas. No cities have specific weather-related riding bans beyond operational suspensions by sharing companies.
Commercial operations: Cities with scooter sharing programs have separate regulations for commercial operators, typically requiring permits and operational agreements that don’t apply to private owners.
FAQs
Q: Do I need to register my scooter in New Hampshire?
Depends entirely on your city. Durham requires registration, Manchester requires licenses, while many communities have no requirements at all.
Q: Can I ride on sidewalks?
Generally no in cities with regulations. Durham explicitly prohibits sidewalk riding, and most other regulated cities follow this pattern.
Q: What’s the minimum age to ride?
No statewide minimum exists. Cities typically set age limits between 15-16 years old where they’ve addressed the issue.
Q: Do I need a driver’s license?
No driver’s license required, though some cities like Manchester have permit systems administered by police departments.
Q: Can I ride anywhere in New Hampshire?
Legal status varies dramatically by location. Research local ordinances before riding in any city, as rules can change completely when crossing town lines.
Q: What about those shared scooters?
Commercial scooter sharing programs operate under specific municipal permits and tend to have different operational rules than private scooter owners.
Resources & citations
- Town of Durham Municipal Code Chapter 055 – Electronic Motorized Devices/Electric Scooters
- City of Manchester Municipal Code Chapter 75 – Motorized Scooters
- New Hampshire House Bill 1445 (2024) – Failed legislation on scooter regulation
- Individual city ordinances
Trust & legal notes
I’ve been working on electric vehicles for over a decade, but I’m a mechanic, not a lawyer. New Hampshire’s city-by-city approach creates as complex of a legal landscape as you can have for a state and regulations can change without statewide notice. This guide summarizes current ordinances for informational purposes only and isn’t legal advice.
For specific legal questions or violations, consult with a local attorney familiar with local regulations.
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Ride Junkie’s final words of non-legal wisdom
One could say that New Hampshire’s approach at the state level lives up to their “Live Free or Die” motto, but in practice it just creates a messy legal soup. The lack of statewide framework means you’re essentially in a legal gray area if your local governance hasn’t created their own rules.
The most idiotic thing I’ve encountered researching all these states is Durham’s registration requirements. You’re required to register your electric scooter with the city clerk/police chief and pay a fee for their administrative work. This registers your scooter as a motorized vehicle, which would be fine. But then the state charges a yearly $100 fee for electric vehicles to substitute for lost gas tax revenue, and they’re completely transparent about their reasoning. All this talk about wanting us to switch to electric, but then they enact fees when we do switch.
Do note that if you’re planning to ride across multiple New Hampshire communities, check every area for local rules before pushing that throttle.
