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Are side-by-sides street legal in Iowa?
Iowa'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 Iowa
Side-by-side (UTV): On some roads. Iowa allows a side-by-side on certain public roads, under the conditions below.
"1. A person shall not operate an all-terrain vehicle or off-road utility vehicle upon roadways or highways except as provided in section 321.234A and this section. ... A registered all-terrain vehicle or off-road utility vehicle may be operated on any of the following secondary roads: (1) An unpaved secondary road. (2) A paved, undivided two-lane secondary road over the most direct and accessible route between any of the following locations:"
ATV (quad): On some roads. Iowa allows an ATV on certain public roads, under the conditions below.
"1. A person shall not operate an all-terrain vehicle or off-road utility vehicle upon roadways or highways except as provided in section 321.234A and this section. ... A registered all-terrain vehicle or off-road utility vehicle may be operated on any of the following secondary roads: (1) An unpaved secondary road. (2) A paved, undivided two-lane secondary road over the most direct and accessible route between any of the following locations:"
Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 321I All-Terrain Vehicles, checked November 2026.
What do you ride?
Side-by-side (UTV) · Iowa. On some roads. Iowa allows a side-by-side on certain public roads, under the conditions below.
Side-by-side (UTV) · Iowa
Some roadsOn some roads. Iowa allows a side-by-side on certain public roads, under the conditions below.
"1. A person shall not operate an all-terrain vehicle or off-road utility vehicle upon roadways or highways except as provided in section 321.234A and this section. ... A registered all-terrain vehicle or off-road utility vehicle may be operated on any of the following secondary roads: (1) An unpaved secondary road. (2) A paved, undivided two-lane secondary road over the most direct and accessible route between any of the following locations:"
Conditions
"A registered all-terrain vehicle or off-road utility vehicle may be operated on an undivided two-lane primary highway that is not part of the interstate road system over the most direct and accessible route between any of the following locations:"
"(3) A paved, undivided secondary road or segment thereof, if authorized by the county board of supervisors."
"A city may regulate the operation of registered all-terrain vehicles and off-road utility vehicles and may designate streets under the jurisdiction of the city within its corporate limits, and two-lane primary and secondary road extensions in the city, which may be used for the operation of such vehicles."
"In addition, a person operating an all-terrain vehicle on a highway pursuant to subsection 1, paragraphs “b” through “g”, shall be at least eighteen years of age and have financial liability coverage in effect for the vehicle and carry proof of such financial liability coverage in accordance with section 321.20B."
"Roadway use allowed (except interstates and four-lane roads)."
Registration and plates
"Registered with Iowa DNR and sticker displayed on rear of vehicle."
Required equipment (2)
- Functioning required equipment, including but not limited to horn, mirror(s), headlight(s), tail lights, and brake lights.
- Display slow-moving vehicle sign.
Driver's license
"A person operating an all-terrain vehicle on a highway shall have a valid driver’s license and operate the vehicle at speeds of thirty-five miles per hour or less."
More from Iowa's law
"“Off-road utility vehicle” means a motorized vehicle with not less than four and not more than eight nonhighway tires or rubberized tracks that has a seat that is of bucket or bench design, not intended to be straddled by the operator, and a steering wheel or control levers for control."
"The operator of an off-road utility vehicle is subject to provisions governing the operation of all-terrain vehicles in section 321.234A, this chapter, and administrative rules"
"Cities and counties can be more restrictive, but not more open/lenient when it comes to Iowa Code 321 governing ATV/UTV/ORV on public roads."
Source: Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 321I All-Terrain Vehicles, checked November 2026.
Also read on: Iowa Code 321.234A All-terrain vehicles, highway use · Iowa DOT: Driving Your ATV or UTV/ORV on Iowa Public Roads
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 Iowa
17 off-road parks listed in Iowa. 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
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- 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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