E-Bike Laws in Malibu, California
Malibu has no local e-bike ordinance. The Malibu municipal code was checked on eCode360 and through the city's ordinance document center, and no e-bike, e-conveyance or motorized- mobility-device chapter was located. State law governs entirely. Malibu's active work on Pacific Coast Highway is a Caltrans safety and bike-route capital project, not a regulatory ordinance — a distinction that matters, because PCH coverage often reads as if rules were changing.
The rules, line by line
| Subject | Rule | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Local e-bike rules | None found. No e-bike, e-conveyance or motorized-mobility-device chapter located in the Malibu municipal code. | not a code provision |
| Pacific Coast Highway | Malibu's active PCH work is a Caltrans safety and bike-route capital project, not a regulatory ordinance. | not a code provision |
| Everything else | Governed by state law — see the state law guide. | Veh. Code § 312.5 et seq. |
What applies in Malibu
State law, and it is more than most riders expect. Malibu's terrain and PCH traffic make some of it particularly relevant:
- Class 3 riders must be 16 or older and helmeted at every age (
Veh. Code § 21213). - Anyone under 18 needs a helmet on any class (
§ 21212(a)). - Rear reflector or light at all hours since January 1, 2026 (
§ 21201(f)) — relevant on PCH, where daytime visibility against traffic is the whole problem. - Bike lane use is mandatory when travelling slower than traffic (
§ 21208(a)), with exceptions for passing, left turns, hazard avoidance and right-turn approaches. - Out-of-class devices and under-16 Class 3 riders are impoundable, 48-hour minimum
(
§ 22651.08). - Sur-Ron-type devices are off-highway electric motorcycles under
§ 436.1and illegal on streets, sidewalks, bike lanes and paths.
The state-park and beach question
Much of the riding around Malibu is on land the city does not control. California State Parks has
its own authority under Veh. Code § 21207.5(c) to prohibit e-bikes on any bicycle path or trail in
its jurisdiction, and its baseline policy is that Class 1 may be designated for trails and
controlled-access roads already open to bicycles, while Class 2 and Class 3 are not allowed on
trails or controlled-access roads.
So a rider in the Santa Monica Mountains may well be under State Parks rules rather than Malibu's absence of rules. The absence of a city ordinance is not the same as an absence of restrictions.
Neighboring jurisdictions do regulate
Heading south along the coast, a rider passes into Santa Monica, where SMMC § 3.12.600 bans all
sidewalk riding citywide and keeps Class 3 off the Marvin Braude trail. Inland, Calabasas adopted
an Electric Mobility Devices Ordinance (Ord. 2026-423) in 2026, and Westlake Village bans e-bikes
from sidewalks, parks, trails and fields with fines of $100, $200 and $500 and a misdemeanour on a
fourth violation.
Common questions
Does Malibu have an e-bike ordinance?
No. The municipal code was checked on eCode360 and through the city's ordinance document center and no e-bike or motorized-mobility-device chapter was located. State law governs. This is a search-based negative finding rather than a certified absence — a rule that was not discoverable could exist.
Can you ride an e-bike on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu?
Yes, subject to state law. All three e-bike classes may use streets and bike lanes, and Veh. Code § 21208(a) requires you to use an available bike lane when travelling slower than traffic. Malibu's PCH activity is a Caltrans safety and bike-route capital project, not a regulation restricting riders.
Are e-bikes allowed on trails around Malibu?
That depends on the land manager, not on Malibu. Much of the surrounding open space is California State Parks land, where the baseline policy is that Class 1 may be designated for trails already open to bicycles while Class 2 and Class 3 are not allowed on trails or controlled-access roads. State Parks has express authority for this under Veh. Code § 21207.5(c).