South Lake Tahoe Municipal Code Ch. 4.185 Shared Mobility Devices

The purpose of this chapter is to establish a process for permitting and regulating operators and riders of shared mobility devices to achieve the city's goals of encouraging alternative modes of transportation while protecting public health and safety.

(Ord. 1140 § 1; Ord. 1184 § 1; Ord. 1204, 5/19/2026)

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms, phrases and words shall have the meanings hereinafter set forth:

"Assistive technology device"

means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of an individual with a disability.

"Bikeway"

means a facility that is provided primarily for bicycle travel as defined by California Streets and Highways Code Section 890.4.

"Class I bikeway"

means a bike path or shared use path which provides a completely separated right-of-way designated for the exclusive use of bicycles and pedestrians with crossflows by motorists minimized.

"Class II bikeway"

means a bike lane which provides a restricted right-of-way designated for the exclusive or semi-exclusive use of bicycles with through travel by motor vehicles or pedestrians prohibited, but with vehicle parking and crossflows by pedestrians and motorists permitted.

"Class III bikeway"

means a bike route established along a route not served by other classes of bikeways or to connect discontinuous segments of bikeways. Class III bikeways are to be shared with motor vehicles and pedestrians, and shall be designated by signs or permanent markings.

"Class IV bikeway"

means a bikeway for the exclusive use of bicycles and includes a separation required between the separated bikeway and the through vehicular traffic. The separation may include, but is not limited to, grade separation, flexible posts, inflexible posts, inflexible barriers, or on-street parking.

"Corral"

means an area designated by the chief of police for staging or parking shared mobility devices that is created either by geofencing, or by physical striping, marking or signage.

"Fleet"

means all shared mobility devices in the city owned by a specific operator.

"Geofencing"

means the creation of a virtual geographic boundary, defined by Global Positioning System (GPS), radio-frequency identification (RFID), or other technology, that enables an operator to regulate speed, issue notifications, and take other actions, when a shared mobility device within its fleet enters or leaves an area.

"Operator"

means any individual, firm, association, partnership, or corporation arranging to provide shared mobility devices within the city.

"Permit"

means a permit issued to an operator under this chapter.

"Rider"

means any person who is riding or is in actual physical control of a shared mobility device.

"Shared mobility device"

means any wheeled transportation device, other than a bicycle, e-bicycle, automobile or motorcycle, by which a person can be propelled, moved or drawn; is accessed via an on-demand portal, whether a smartphone application, membership card, or similar method; is displayed, placed or offered for rent in any public area or public right-of-way by an operator for shared use by members of the public; and is available to members of the public in unstaffed, self-service locations.

(Ord. 1140 § 1; Ord. 1184 § 1; Ord. 1204, 5/19/2026)

Shared bicycles and shared e-bicycles are prohibited.

(Ord. 1140 § 1; Ord. 1184 § 1; Ord. 1204, 5/19/2026)

It is unlawful for any operator to conduct a shared mobility device business without a permit.

(Ord. 1140 § 1; Ord. 1184 § 1; Ord. 1204, 5/19/2026)

A. An operator shall submit a permit application to the chief of police containing, at a minimum, the following:

1. The operator's name and business address, and the name and natural person or persons who will serve as a local point of contact for the operator;

2. Proof of a valid city business and professions certificate;

3. The type and number of shared mobility devices the operator intends to deploy with a list of identifying serial numbers designated for each device, and a schedule for phased deployment of the fleet, if applicable;

4. The location of any building or property proposed to be used by the operator for its shared mobility device business operations within the city; and

5. A nonrefundable fee for each shared mobility device in the operator's fleet for use within the city. If phased deployment of the fleet is proposed, payment for the first phase of deployment is due with the application and payment for any subsequent phases of deployment is due prior to each deployment. The city council may set the fee per resolution.

B. At the time of application, the operator must provide proof of commercial general liability insurance with an admitted insurer, or a nonadmitted insurer that is eligible to insure a home state insured under Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 1760) of Part 2 of Division 1 of the Insurance Code, naming the city of South Lake Tahoe as an additional insured for an amount no less than $2,000,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage, and with an aggregate amount of no less than $5,000,000 for all occurrences during the policy period, and which meets the following requirements:

1. If the operator maintains broader coverage and/or higher limits than the minimums required for all policies, the city requires and shall be entitled to the broader coverage and/or higher limits maintained by the operator. Any available insurance proceeds in excess of the specified minimum limits of insurance and coverage shall be available to the city.

2. The operator's insurance coverage shall be the primary insurance coverage with respect to the city, its officers, officials, employees, and volunteers. Any insurance or self-insurance maintained by the city, its officers, officials, employees, or volunteers shall be excess of the operator's insurance and shall not contribute with it.

3. The operator agrees to waive rights of subrogation which any insurer of operator may acquire from operator by virtue of the payment of any loss. The operator agrees to obtain any endorsement that may be necessary to affect this waiver of subrogation, but this provision applies regardless of whether or not the city has received a waiver of subrogation endorsement from the insurer.

4. The operator shall provide immediate written notice to the city if (1) any of the required insurance policies are terminated; (2) the limits of any of the required polices are reduced; or (3) the deductible or self-insured retention is increased. In the event of any cancellation or reduction in coverage or limits of any insurance, the operator shall obtain and submit proof of substitute insurance.

C. The operator must also offer or make available, or confirm the rider maintains, insurance coverage for bodily injury or death suffered by a pedestrian when the injury or death involves, in whole or in part, the negligent conduct of the rider, of $10,000 for each occurrence of bodily injury to, or death of, one pedestrian in any one accident, and for property damage to an assistive technology device, or $1,000 for each occurrence. This subsection shall not be interpreted to limit or supersede the other insurance requirements set forth pursuant this section.

D. Each application must bear the operator's signature agreeing to:

1. Provide the city with anonymized data on its fleet trip activity within the city, including the Zip Code of each rider; and

2. Indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the city, its elected and appointed boards, officers, employees, agents, volunteers, contractors, and invitees from any and all liability, for any and all claims, demands, actions, losses, damages, and injuries direct or indirect, including any and all attorneys' fees, costs and expenses, in connection therewith, arising from operator's activities, from and against each and every claim and demand of whatsoever nature made on behalf of or by any person, persons, firm, partnership, corporation or otherwise, including operator's employees, except for claims arising out of the sole negligence or willful misconduct of the city.

3. Require all riders who operate a shared mobility device in the operator's fleet within the City to acknowledge a waiver prior to the rider's initial ride within the City to waive all claims, demands, actions, losses, damages, and injuries direct or indirect, including any and all attorneys' fees, costs and expenses in connection therewith, against the City arising from the rider's operation of a shared mobility device within the City, except for claims arising out of the sole negligence or willful misconduct of the City.

4. Submit to photo enforcement violations of this chapter, including the requirement to effectively prohibit riders under 18 years of age.

(Ord. 1140 § 1; Ord. 1184 § 1; Ord. 1204, 5/19/2026)

A. Each permit shall contain the following:

1. The number and each type of shared mobility devices the operator is authorized to deploy, up to no more than 500 shared mobility devices per operator;

2. A requirement to effectively prohibit shared mobility devices in the operator's fleet from entering or operating on the public walkways and public rights-of-way within the Heavenly Village area, to an extent to be determined by the chief of police, through geofencing or similar technology;

3. A requirement to effectively prohibit, using geofencing or similar technology, any shared mobility devices in the operator's fleet from being locked, parked, or ending a ride within any Class I, Class II, or Class IV bikeway or trail in the city;

4. A requirement to effectively prohibit, using geofencing or similar technology, any shared mobility devices in the operator's fleet from being locked, parked, or ending a ride except within a corral if the shared mobility device is within 1,000 feet from a corral; and

5. A requirement that each shared mobility device in the operator's fleet have affixed to it a designated serial number in Arial Bold, font size 130. This serial number will be of contrasting color to the device and placed on both the left and right side of the SMD upright;

6. A requirement to effectively prohibit riders under 18 years of age. The operator shall annually require each rider to re-scan the rider's proof of identification card prior to the first instance the rider operates a shared mobility device in the operator's fleet within the City each calendar year.

B. No permit will be issued prior to the operator obtaining any discretionary and building permits required to occupy any building or property within the city proposed to be used for operations, such as warehouse or office space.

C. Any operator in compliance with this chapter may apply for a permit annually.

(Ord. 1140 § 1; Ord. 1184 § 1; Ord. 1204, 5/19/2026)

A. No more than 1,000 shared mobility devices shall be permitted within the city at a time. Once that limit is reached, no more permits will be issued to operators.

B. It is unlawful for an operator to deploy more shared mobility devices than allowed by that operator's permit.

(Ord. 1140 § 1; Ord. 1184 § 1; Ord. 1204, 5/19/2026)

A. The chief of police, in consultation with the director of public works, may establish special parking, no-ride zones, speed zones, or other areas where riding and/or parking restrictions may apply. These locations may either be permanent or temporary.

B. The chief of police, in consultation with the director of public works, may establish locations of corrals. All corral locations will be published on the city's website.

C. The chief of police may require that an operator mark or geofence these areas and make that information available through the operator's smartphone app.

D. The chief of police may require that operators direct riders to specified designated parking areas (city designated parking zones, or special areas for events). Geofencing must be integrated into the operator's app within one week of notice from the chief of police.

E. The chief of police may adopt additional rules to implement the provisions of this chapter, including geographic restrictions for shared mobility devices.

(Ord. 1184 § 1; Ord. 1204, 5/19/2026)

A. Operators shall comply with the following:

1. Each operator is subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations including those in this code and the California Vehicle Code pertaining to the operation and safety standards of the shared mobility devices in its fleet.

2. Each operator shall limit the motorized-assisted speed of each shared mobility device to no more than 15 miles per hour.

3. Through geofencing or similar technology, each operator shall effectively prohibit riders from entering or operating shared mobility devices on public walkways and public rights-of-way within the Heavenly Village area, as designated in the operator's permit.

4. Through geofencing or similar technology, each operator shall effectively prohibit, using geofencing or similar technology, any shared mobility devices in the operator's fleet from being locked, parked, or ending a ride within any Class I, Class II, or Class IV bikeway or trail in the city.

5. Through geofencing or similar technology, each operator shall effectively prohibit, using geofencing or similar technology, any shared mobility devices in the operator's fleet from being locked, parked, or ending a ride except within a corral if the shared mobility device is within 1,000 feet from a corral.

6. The chief of police may require operators, through geofencing or similar technology, to temporarily prevent the operation of shared mobility devices in a specific area during an emergency situation or within the perimeter of a permitted special event, when necessary to maintain public health and safety.

7. When a rider operates a shared mobility device in the operator's fleet within an area subject to geofencing, the operator shall notify the rider of the restricted area.

8. Each operator must effectively prohibit a person and account holder from renting more than one shared mobility device at a time.

9. Each operator must effectively prohibit riders under 18 years of age. Operators shall annually require each rider within the city limits to re-scan the rider's proof of identification card prior to the first instance the rider operates a shared mobility device in the operator's fleet within the city each calendar year.

10. Operators shall ban the accounts of riders with two or more citations under this chapter.

11. Operators shall remove all shared mobility devices from operation within the city during the period of November 1 through April 30 each year.

12. Operators shall agree to provide rider information from the identified date, time, and serial number that would allow identification of any rider allegedly in violation of specified California Vehicle Codes shown in photographic evidence. This information shall only be used to assist the city in issuing administrative invoice(s) to the rider for violation(s) of the South Lake Tahoe City Code.

13. Operators shall inform their riders about special events, operational changes, or scheduled and publicly announced South Lake Tahoe Police Department enforcement actions through the mobile app.

14. Operators shall inform their riders that operating shared mobility devices under the influence of drugs or alcohol is against the law.

15. Engagement, Outreach, and Education.

a. Operators shall provide a parking and safety education plan as part of their permit application. Operators shall engage with riders to protect the safety of customers and all roadway users. Engagements shall include a mix of virtual (digital media and in-app communications), physical, and in-person methods. This engagement should consider the needs and concerns of riders as well as non-riders.

b. Operators shall educate riders about safety, riding rules, and etiquette at the time of signup. Messages must include, but are not limited to:

i. Advise to wear helmets when legally required;

ii. Sidewalk riding is prohibited;

iii. Park in appropriate locations including designated corrals;

iv. Riding age restrictions;

v. Ride one person per device;

vi. Obey the rules of the road, and potential penalties;

vii. Yielding to pedestrians;

viii. How to report an issue;

ix. Prohibition on riding under the influence.

c. Operators shall educate riders about safety, riding rules and etiquette at the time a rider commences a SMD rental.

16. Digital Outreach and Education.

a. Each rental messaging must be engaging, easy to understand, and require interactive acknowledgement or confirmation by the rider, such as a "rules quiz" or yes or no questions.

b. Operators shall educate customers on how to appropriately park devices at the time of each rental through in-app or audio messaging. Messages should inform riders that improper parking puts others at risk.

c. Operators shall develop systems to review and link riders to violations.

d. Operator's software and mobile apps shall regularly inform and educate riders when they have ridden into prohibited riding areas such as geofenced areas, public parking facilities, public parks, and sidewalks.

e. Operators shall inform their riders about special events, operational changes, or scheduled and publicly-announced South Lake Tahoe Police Department enforcement actions through the mobile app.

f. Operators shall inform their riders that operating shared mobility devices under the influence of drugs or alcohol is against the law.

17. Physical Outreach and Education.

a. Operators shall regularly deploy ambassadors and/or street teams to inform riders on safety and appropriate device use (including parking). Ambassador teams should be clearly identifiable as operator staff.

b. Operators must conduct at minimum six community events or community/stakeholder safety workshops per year. Operators may host these safety workshops at community events, such as the Live at Lakeview summer concert series.

c. Half (per season) of the community events or community/stakeholder meetings must be targeted toward engaging low-income or other disadvantaged community members. Operators shall conduct outreach in multiple languages.

d. Operators must host at least two learn-to-ride education opportunities per year.

e. Operators shall provide, to the city at fleet deployment, a plan for community outreach and engagement that shall include ambassador/street teams' engagement activities and schedules, along with planned presentation, activities, and events with community-based organizations, business improvement districts, and other key stakeholders.

f. Operators shall, on a monthly basis, report information from this outreach to the chief of police to inform problem solving efforts, including, but not limited to, the number of people, time, length, location, and general comments from community members regarding engagement.

B. Riders shall comply with the following:

1. All riders are subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations including, but not limited to, those in this code and the California Vehicle Code.

2. All riders must be 18 years of age or older with a valid driver's license. All riders shall re-scan their proof of identification card prior to the first instance the rider operates a shared mobility device in an operator's fleet within the city each calendar year.

3. No rider shall operate a shared mobility device with more than one rider per device at a time.

4. Riders must park shared mobility devices on a sidewalk or other hard surface, in a manner that does not impede pedestrian access and provides a minimum of three feet for a pedestrian walkway; does not impede or obstruct access to ADA parking zones, street furniture, curb ramps, entry ways, driveways, sidewalk cafes, bus stops, loading zones, or landscaping; and does not impede or obstruct vehicular traffic on a street or alley.

5. No rider shall lock, park, or end a ride within any Class I, Class II, or Class IV bikeway or trail in the city.

6. If a rider is within 1,000 feet from a corral, the rider shall only lock, park, or end a ride within a corral.

(Ord. 1140 § 1; Ord. 1184 § 1; Ord. 1204, 5/19/2026; Formerly 4.185.080)

A. Within three hours of notice from the city, an operator shall retrieve a shared mobility device that is in any of the following conditions:

1. Inoperable or not safe to operate and parked on a city street, sidewalk or other city property; or

2. Parked, displayed, offered or made available for rent in violation of this chapter or the California Vehicle Code.

B. The city may impound a shared mobility device that is:

1. Not retrieved within three hours of notice to the operator; or

2. In a condition or parked in a manner that poses an imminent life safety hazard. No notice is required prior to impounding a shared mobility device posing an imminent life safety hazard.

(Ord. 1140 § 1; Ord. 1204, 5/19/2026; Formerly 4.185.090)

A. The city manager may revoke a permit on any of the following grounds, and shall provide written notice of the reason for the revocation to the operator:

1. The violation by operator of any of the terms, conditions or requirements of the permit or of this chapter.

2. Failure to effectively prohibit riders under the age of 18 from accessing shared mobility devices, which may be established either by multiple administrative citations issued to the operator based on photographic evidence of underage riders, by a city-conducted survey identifying a pattern of underage riders using the operator's shared mobility devices, or any combination thereof.

B. An operator may appeal the city manager's decision to revoke or not renew a permit to the city council under the administrative appeal procedures in Chapter 2.35 SLTCC.

C. Within 10 business days of the revocation of an operator's permit, the operator shall remove its fleet from the city and shall retrieve any shared mobility devices impounded by the city. If the operator fails to remove or retrieve any of its shared mobility devices, the city may remove and dispose of the shared mobility device at the operator's cost.

(Ord. 1140 § 1; Ord. 1184 § 1; Ord. 1204, 5/19/2026; Formerly 4.185.100)

A. Any operator or rider violating any provision of this chapter is subject to administrative citations under Chapter 2.30 SLTCC.

B.

1. The city may issue an administrative citation with a fine to an operator based on photographic, or other, evidence that includes the serial number of an operator's shared mobility device and demonstrates that a rider is using that shared mobility device in violation of this chapter. City Council may set the amount of the fine per resolution.

2. The city may issue an administrative citation with a fine to rider based on photographic, or other, evidence that includes the serial number of an operator's shared mobility device, a date and time stamp or other evidence of a date and time, and demonstrates the rider is using that shared mobility device in violation of this chapter. City Council may set the amount of the fine per resolution.

3. By incorporation, photo enforcement for rider violations includes only specific California Vehicle Code (CVC) violations on a shared mobility device as enumerated below:

a. CVC § 21228(b) (when preparing for a left turn, the rider must dismount);

b. CVC § 21235(e) (no passenger allowed).

The above listed violations, when cited, will reference this chapter, section, and subsections of SLTCC, as applicable.

C. Any operator violating, permitting, or assisting the violation of any provisions of this chapter shall be subject to any and all civil remedies, including, without limitation, permit revocation. All remedies provided herein shall be cumulative and not exclusive. Any violation of these provisions shall constitute a separate violation for each and every day during which such violation is committed or continued.

D. In addition to the remedies set forth in this chapter, operating a shared mobility device business in violation of any provision of this chapter is hereby declared to constitute a public nuisance under Chapter 4.40 SLTCC and, as such, may be abated or enjoined from further operation in the city.

(Ord. 1140 § 1; Ord. 1184 § 1; Ord. 1204, 5/19/2026; Formerly 4.185.110)