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Are side-by-sides street legal in Delaware?
Delaware'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 Delaware
Side-by-side (UTV): No. Delaware does not allow a side-by-side on public roads.
"(a) OHVs shall not be operated upon a public highway or street or sidewalk or right-of-way thereof located within this State except under the following conditions: (1) An OHV may be pushed across or along such public way provided such OHV is in neutral or that the power train is otherwise disengaged, and further provided that such use shall be in conformance with Chapter 41 of this title. (2) An OHV may be operated on a street or highway located within this State for a special event of limited duration, conducted according to a prearranged schedule only under permit from the governmental unit having jurisdiction."
ATV (quad): No. Delaware does not allow an ATV on public roads.
"(a) OHVs shall not be operated upon a public highway or street or sidewalk or right-of-way thereof located within this State except under the following conditions: (1) An OHV may be pushed across or along such public way provided such OHV is in neutral or that the power train is otherwise disengaged, and further provided that such use shall be in conformance with Chapter 41 of this title. (2) An OHV may be operated on a street or highway located within this State for a special event of limited duration, conducted according to a prearranged schedule only under permit from the governmental unit having jurisdiction."
Delaware Code Title 21, Chapter 68, 6814 Operation of OHVs upon public highways, streets, sidewalks or rights-of-way, checked November 2026.
What do you ride?
Side-by-side (UTV) · Delaware. No. Delaware does not allow a side-by-side on public roads.
Side-by-side (UTV) · Delaware
Not allowedNo. Delaware does not allow a side-by-side on public roads.
"(a) OHVs shall not be operated upon a public highway or street or sidewalk or right-of-way thereof located within this State except under the following conditions: (1) An OHV may be pushed across or along such public way provided such OHV is in neutral or that the power train is otherwise disengaged, and further provided that such use shall be in conformance with Chapter 41 of this title. (2) An OHV may be operated on a street or highway located within this State for a special event of limited duration, conducted according to a prearranged schedule only under permit from the governmental unit having jurisdiction."
Conditions
"OHVs may not be operated on public streets or highways, and the rider must have the permission of the property owner before operation on private property."
"Such registration shall not permit the vehicle to be operated on any highway except as hereinafter specifically provided."
More from Delaware's law
"(50) “Off-highway vehicle” or “OHV” means a motor driven off-road vehicle capable of cross-country travel without benefit of a road or trail, on or immediately over land, snow, ice, marsh, swampland or other natural terrain. It includes, but is not limited to, a multi-wheel drive or low pressure tire vehicle,"
"(1) “All terrain vehicle” or “ATV” means an “off-highway vehicle” or “OHV” that is motorized and designed to travel on 4 low-pressure tires and having a seat to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering control."
Find off-road parks to ride without the road questionRiding a dirt bike? Check its road law
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
Riding in Delaware
3 off-road parks listed in Delaware. National forest roads open to your vehicle today.
Other states
Side-by-side and ATV road laws in other states
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Common questions
Street legal UTV questions
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