Minnesota e-bike regulations

Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. 169.011 subd. 27) classifies electric-assisted bicycles in three tiers and generally treats them as bicycles rather than motor vehicles, exempting riders from licensing, registration and insurance requirements while imposing an age minimum for Class 3 e-bikes and operating rules under Minn. Stat. 169.222. A temporary state e-bike rebate program (Minn. Stat. 289A.51) ran in 2024-2025 and is now closed.

Overview

Minnesota regulates electric bicycles under its state vehicle code. Statewide statutes below set the baseline for every county, city and school district in Minnesota. Local governments may adopt stricter rules for trails, sidewalks, beaches and campus property.

What riders should know

  • Confirm your bike's class (1, 2 or 3) — most rules key off class.
  • Helmet and minimum age rules often differ by class and by locality.
  • Trail, path and sidewalk access is frequently set at the county or city level.

Minnesota statutes

  • Definition of Electric-Assisted Bicycle

    Minn. Stat. 169.011, subd. 27

    Defines 'electric-assisted bicycle' and establishes the three-class system (Class 1, 2 and 3) based on motor assistance type and top speed.

    Office of the Revisor of Statutes
  • Operation of Bicycle (incl. electric-assisted bicycles)

    Minn. Stat. 169.222

    Governs operation of bicycles, including electric-assisted bicycles, on Minnesota roadways, shoulders and paths; sets rules of the road, equipment requirements and restrictions for Class 3 e-bikes and minors.

    Office of the Revisor of Statutes
  • Electric-Assisted Bicycle Rebate

    Minn. Stat. 289A.51

    Established a state rebate program administered by the Department of Revenue for Minnesota residents purchasing new e-bikes from approved retailers; rebates were capped and the program is now closed.

    Minnesota Department of Revenue

Minnesota government links

Last verified 2026-09-07

Minnesota meeting calendar (state, county & city)

No scheduled meetings recorded yet.

Minnesota meetings on e-bikes

No e-bike meetings recorded for this area yet.

Federal delegation

  • Amy Klobuchar

    United States Senator • Democratic

    425 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510

  • Tina Smith

    United States Senator • Democratic

    720 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510

  • Brad Finstad

    U.S. Representative • District MN-01 • Republican

    2418 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

  • Angie Craig

    U.S. Representative • District MN-02 • Democratic

    2052 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

  • Kelly Morrison

    U.S. Representative • District MN-03 • Democratic

    1205 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

  • Betty McCollum

    U.S. Representative • District MN-04 • Democratic

  • Ilhan Omar

    U.S. Representative • District MN-05 • Democratic

  • Tom Emmer

    U.S. Representative • District MN-06 • Republican

    326 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

  • Michelle Fischbach

    U.S. Representative • District MN-07 • Republican

  • Pete Stauber

    U.S. Representative • District MN-08 • Republican

    145 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

State officials

  • Tim Walz

    Governor of Minnesota • DFL

    130 State Capitol, 75 Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155

  • Nancy Daubenberger

    Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Transportation

  • Scott Dibble

    Chair, Minnesota Senate Transportation Committee • District 61 • DFL

    3107 Minnesota Senate Bldg., St. Paul, MN 55155

  • Jon Koznick

    Co-Chair, Minnesota House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee • District 57A • Republican

  • Brad Tabke

    Co-Chair, Minnesota House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee • District 54A • DFL

Counties (87)