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Are side-by-sides street legal?
Pick your state and what you ride. Get the state's own law on public roads, quoted and linked, with its conditions, equipment and plate rule.
Side-by-side (UTV) · Ohio. Only where it is allowed locally. In Ohio, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.
Side-by-side (UTV) · Ohio
Where locally allowedOnly where it is allowed locally. In Ohio, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.
"(2) No person shall operate an under-speed or utility vehicle or a mini-truck upon any street or highway except as follows: (a) Upon a street or highway having an established speed limit not greater than thirty-five miles per hour and only upon such streets or highways where a local authority has granted permission for such operation in accordance with section 4511.215 of the Revised Code;"
Conditions
"Limit the operation of those vehicles to streets and highways having an established speed limit not greater than thirty-five miles per hour;"
"Require the vehicle owner who wishes to operate an under-speed or utility vehicle or a mini-truck on the public streets or highways to submit the vehicle to an inspection conducted by a local law enforcement agency that complies with inspection requirements established by the department of public safety under section 4513.02 of the Revised Code;"
"A person operating a low-speed vehicle, under-speed, or utility vehicle or a mini-truck from proceeding across an intersection of a street or highway having a speed limit greater than thirty-five miles per hour;"
"A local authority may establish additional requirements for the operation of under-speed or utility vehicles or mini-trucks on its streets and highways."
Registration and plates
"(3) Permit the operation on public streets or highways of only those vehicles that successfully pass the required vehicle inspection, are registered in accordance with Chapter 4503. of the Revised Code, and are titled in accordance with Chapter 4505. of the Revised Code;"
Required equipment (1)
- submit the vehicle to an inspection conducted by a local law enforcement agency that complies with inspection requirements established by the department of public safety under section 4513.02 of the Revised Code;
More from Ohio's law
""Utility vehicle" means a self-propelled vehicle designed with a bed, principally for the purpose of transporting material or cargo in connection with construction, agricultural, forestry, grounds maintenance, lawn and garden, materials handling, or similar activities."
""All-purpose vehicle" means any self-propelled vehicle designed primarily for cross-country travel on land and water, or on more than one type of terrain, and steered by wheels or caterpillar treads, or any combination thereof, including vehicles that operate on a cushion of air, vehicles commonly known as all-terrain vehicles, all-season vehicles, mini-bikes, and trail bikes. "All-purpose vehicle" does not include a utility vehicle as defined in section 4501.01 of the Revised Code"
"(F) For snowmobiles without metal studded tracks and all-purpose vehicles, on state highways located on an island in Lake Erie, including limited access highways and freeways, between the first day of November and the thirtieth day of April, provided that all of the following conditions apply:"
Source: Section 4511.214: Operation of low-speed, under-speed, or utility vehicle, or a mini-truck., checked November 2026.
Also read on: Section 4511.215: Local authorization (under-speed or utility vehicles, mini-trucks) · Section 4519.41: Operation of vehicle on or near highway, street or road. · Section 4519.40: Prohibited acts. · Section 4519.44: Driver's license requirement · Section 4501.01: Motor vehicles definitions
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A guide to each state's published law, not legal advice. City and county ordinances and posted signs decide which roads are open; the linked law is the authority.
- Each state's own law, quoted
- Side-by-side or ATV
- Conditions, equipment and plates
By state
Side-by-side and ATV road laws by state
Each state's own law, read for public roads. City and county ordinances decide which roads are open where the law leaves it to them.
| State | Side-by-side | ATV |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No state rule found | No state rule found |
| Arizona | Can be plated | Can be plated |
| Arkansas | Where a city or county allows | Crossing only |
| California | Where a city or county allows | Where a city or county allows |
| Colorado | Where a city or county allows | Where a city or county allows |
| Florida | No state rule found | Some roads |
| Georgia | Some roads | No state rule found |
| Idaho | Some roads | Some roads |
| Kentucky | Where a city or county allows | Where a city or county allows |
| Michigan | Where a city or county allows | Where a city or county allows |
| Minnesota | Some roads | Some roads |
| Missouri | Some roads | Where a city or county allows |
| Montana | Can be plated | Can be plated |
| Nevada | Some roads | Some roads |
| North Carolina | Some roads | Crossing only |
| Ohio | Where a city or county allows | Where a city or county allows |
| Oregon | Where a city or county allows | Where a city or county allows |
| Pennsylvania | Where a city or county allows | Where a city or county allows |
| South Dakota | Can be plated | Can be plated |
| Tennessee | Some roads | Some roads |
| Texas | Where a city or county allows | Where a city or county allows |
| Utah | Can be plated | Can be plated |
| Washington | Some roads | Some roads |
| West Virginia | Some roads | Some roads |
| Wisconsin | Where a city or county allows | Where a city or county allows |
Common questions
Street legal UTV questions
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