Responsible Official: Senior Vice President for Operations
Responsible Office: Fire Code Compliance
Effective Date: April 13, 2026
Revision Date: April 13, 2026
Policy Sections
4501.1 Prohibition of Battery-Powered Micromobility Devices in University Buildings
4501.2 External Storage and Transportation Alternatives
4501.3 Reporting and Enforcement
Scope
This policy governs and prohibits the presence, use, storage, parking, and charging of Battery-Powered Micromobility Devices within any University Building, as those terms are defined below. It applies to all Yale community members and visitors to University Buildings, whether on or off campus.
This policy does not apply to electric wheelchairs, electric vehicles (as defined and covered in Policy 4500 Electric Vehicle Charging Policy) parked in garages owned, leased, or operated by Yale, or to mobility devices approved by Student Accessibility Services, the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility, or the Staff Accommodations Program as accommodations for individuals with disabilities. This policy also does not include nonpersonal micromobility devices used for approved research, teaching, and public safety purposes.
Policy Statement
Yale University strictly prohibits the use, presence, storage, parking, or charging of any Battery-Powered Micromobility Device within all University Buildings.
Any Battery-Powered Micromobility Device found in violation of this policy is subject to confiscation by Fire Code Compliance, Yale Public Safety, or Facilities.
Reason for the Policy
The lithium-ion batteries that power Battery-Powered Micromobility Devices present a significant fire hazard. These batteries can fail catastrophically, causing an explosive, rapidly spreading fire that is difficult to extinguish and poses a grave threat to life, safety and University property, particularly within densely occupied residential, laboratory, and academic buildings. Accordingly, this policy prohibits the use, presence, storage, parking, and charging of Battery-Powered Micromobility Devices within University Buildings.
Definitions
Battery-Powered Micromobility Device
Any transportation device powered by a battery and any removable or installed battery used to power such a device, including but not limited to, electric scooters, electric bicycles (e-bikes), electric skateboards, hoverboards, and electric unicycles. This definition applies both to personal transportation devices and commercially owned transportation devices, such as devices managed by bike share and scooter rental services.
University Building
Any building, structure, or indoor space owned, leased, or operated by Yale whether on or off campus.
Policy Sections
4501.1 Prohibition of Battery-Powered Micromobility Devices in University Buildings
Yale University strictly prohibits the use, presence, storage, parking, and charging of all Battery-Powered Micromobility Devices within all University Buildings.
4501.2 External Storage and Transportation Alternatives
External Storage: Designated external storage racks are available for Battery-Powered Micromobility Devices. A map of these locations can be found online at Yale Bike Map.
Alternative Transportation: Yale encourages its community to use other sustainable transportation options, including non-battery powered micromobility devices and the Yale Shuttle service. Additional information about transportation options is available online at Getting Around Campus.
Requesting Voluntary Temporary Storage: Individuals may voluntarily request the temporary storage of a Battery-Powered Micromobility Device by contacting Facilities Customer Service at (203) 432-6888 or by submitting a service request online at Office of Facilities. Fire Code Compliance arranges for the Battery-Powered Micromobility Device to be stored until the owner can remove it from campus. Additional information on voluntary temporary storage is set forth in Procedure 4501 PR.01 Micromobility Device Removal, Disposal, and Return Procedure.
4501.3 Reporting and Enforcement
Reporting: Any Battery-Powered Micromobility Device observed inside a University Building should be immediately reported to Yale Public Safety (Yale Public Safety Contact Information) or to Fire Code Compliance (firemarshal@yale.edu; (203) 432-9923).
Confiscation: Any Battery-Powered Micromobility Device found in a University Building is subject to immediate confiscation. The process for the storage, disposal, and return of confiscated Battery-Powered Micromobility Devices is set forth in Procedure 4501 PR.01 Micromobility Device Removal, Disposal, and Return Procedure.
Disciplinary Consequences: Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action or other penalties in accordance with applicable Yale policies.
Special Situations/Exceptions
Exceptions to this policy are extremely rare. Any such exceptions, supported by special circumstances, require prior approval by Fire Code Compliance, in consultation with other offices of the University, as appropriate.
Roles and Responsibilities
Fire Code Compliance
- Remove, store, return, and dispose of Battery-Powered Micromobility Devices observed to be in violation of this policy.
- Temporarily store Battery-Powered Micromobility Devices voluntarily turned in by members of the Yale community until the owners can remove the Battery-Powered Micromobility Devices from campus.
Office of Facilities
- Receive and process requests for temporary storage of Battery-Powered Micromobility Devices.
Yale Public Safety
- Receive reports of Battery-Powered Micromobility Devices within University Buildings.
- Coordinate with Fire Code Compliance for the removal, storage, return, and disposal of Battery-Powered Micromobility Devices observed to be in violation of this policy.
Yale Visitors and Community Members, including Faculty, Staff, Students, and Affiliates
- Refrain from using, storing, parking, or charging Battery-Powered Micromobility Devices within University Buildings, in accordance with this policy.
- Report Battery-Powered Micromobility Devices observed inside a University Building to Yale Public Safety or to Fire Code Compliance.
Related Resources
Procedure 4501 PR.01 Micromobility Device Removal, Disposal, and Return Procedure