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Are side-by-sides street legal in California?

California's law on side-by-sides and ATVs on public roads, quoted from its own page, with the conditions, equipment and plate rule.

The law in California

Side-by-side (UTV): Only where it is allowed locally. In California, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.
"Can an OHV ever be operated on the highway in California? Yes. OHVs, meeting specific equipment requirements, when used by an operator with a valid driver's license, can be driven on highway sections that have been legally designated and signed for combined use of both off-highway vehicles and highway legal vehicles. These sections cannot be more than three miles long and must be signed describing the combined use status."
ATV (quad): Only where it is allowed locally. In California, an ATV may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.
"Can an OHV ever be operated on the highway in California? Yes. OHVs, meeting specific equipment requirements, when used by an operator with a valid driver's license, can be driven on highway sections that have been legally designated and signed for combined use of both off-highway vehicles and highway legal vehicles. These sections cannot be more than three miles long and must be signed describing the combined use status."
Dirt bike: Only where it is allowed locally. In California, a dirt bike may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.
"Can an OHV ever be operated on the highway in California? Yes. OHVs, meeting specific equipment requirements, when used by an operator with a valid driver's license, can be driven on highway sections that have been legally designated and signed for combined use of both off-highway vehicles and highway legal vehicles."

OHMVR Frequently Asked Questions: California State Parks, checked November 2026.

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Side-by-side (UTV) · California

Where locally allowed

Only where it is allowed locally. In California, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.

"Can an OHV ever be operated on the highway in California? Yes. OHVs, meeting specific equipment requirements, when used by an operator with a valid driver's license, can be driven on highway sections that have been legally designated and signed for combined use of both off-highway vehicles and highway legal vehicles. These sections cannot be more than three miles long and must be signed describing the combined use status."

Conditions

"These sections cannot be more than three miles long and must be signed describing the combined use status."
"Additionally, all OHVs can cross a two lane highway at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to the direction of the roadway, and at a place where a quick and safe crossing may be made."
"Only to cross at designated places on highways with more than two lanes."
"Only on a combined use highway (a highway which allows off-highway vehicles only during daylight hours)."
"A vehicle designed and manufactured for off-highway use may not be operated on a California highway even though it may be highway legal in its home state because it does not meet the federal highway safety standards for highway vehicles."

Registration and plates

"Note : Four-wheel all-terrain vehicles ( Example: Kawasaki Mules, Polaris 4W side- by-side) cannot be registered for on-highway use (auto or commercial)."

Required equipment (3)

Are brake lights required on my OHV? Only on a combined use highway (a highway which allows off-highway vehicles only during daylight hours).
From a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise, a forward facing white light and a rear facing red light are required.
You are required by the California Vehicle Code to have a spark arrester, maintained and in effective working order, whenever you are operating your OHV on any forest-covered land, brush-covered land, or grass-covered land.

Driver's license

"OHVs, meeting specific equipment requirements, when used by an operator with a valid driver's license, can be driven on highway sections that have been legally designated and signed for combined use of both off-highway vehicles and highway legal vehicles."

Riding in California

64 off-road parks listed in California. National forest roads open to your vehicle today.

See California off-road parks

Other states

Side-by-side and ATV road laws in other states

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Common questions

Street legal UTV questions

Only where it is allowed locally. In California, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it. Source: OHMVR Frequently Asked Questions: California State Parks.

Only where it is allowed locally. In California, an ATV may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it. Source: OHMVR Frequently Asked Questions: California State Parks.

California's law says: "Note : Four-wheel all-terrain vehicles ( Example: Kawasaki Mules, Polaris 4W side- by-side) cannot be registered for on-highway use (auto or commercial)."

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