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Are side-by-sides street legal in Louisiana?

Louisiana'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 Louisiana

Side-by-side (UTV): Only where it is allowed locally. In Louisiana, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.
"B. Notwithstanding the provisions in R.S. 32:299, the operation of a utility terrain vehicle upon the public roads or streets of this state is prohibited, except as follows: (1) A utility terrain vehicle may be operated only upon a parish road that has been designated by a parish or a municipal street that has been designated by a municipality for use by a utility terrain vehicle."
ATV (quad): No, except to cross. Louisiana allows an ATV on a public road only to cross it.
The law also lets farmers use road shoulders for farm work within five miles of the farm, outside Orleans Parish.
"A.(1) Off-road vehicles, including but not limited to three-wheelers, four-wheelers, or other all-terrain vehicles which are not specifically designated for road use may travel on the shoulders of all public roads and highways except interstate highways in the manner provided for in this Section solely for the purposes of farm-related activities within a five-mile radius of a farmer's farm ... Incidental crossing of public roads or highways shall be authorized."

Louisiana R.S. 32:299.3 Off-road vehicles; utility terrain vehicles, checked November 2026.

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Side-by-side (UTV) · Louisiana

Where locally allowed

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

"B. Notwithstanding the provisions in R.S. 32:299, the operation of a utility terrain vehicle upon the public roads or streets of this state is prohibited, except as follows: (1) A utility terrain vehicle may be operated only upon a parish road that has been designated by a parish or a municipal street that has been designated by a municipality for use by a utility terrain vehicle."

Conditions

"Upon a designation that a utility terrain vehicle may be operated on a designated road or street, the responsible governmental entity shall post appropriate signage indicating that the operation is authorized."
"(2) A utility terrain vehicle may cross any divided highway, highway, roadway, or street with a posted speed limit in excess of thirty-five miles per hour at an intersection."
"F. Any utility terrain vehicle operated upon a highway of this state shall have liability insurance with the same minimum limits as required by the provisions of R.S. 32:900(B)."
"(2) The number of persons permitted to travel in a utility terrain vehicle is limited to the number of available seat belts."
"H. Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to prevent parish or municipal governments from prohibiting the operation of any utility terrain vehicle on any parish road or municipal street under its jurisdiction if the parish or municipal government determines that the prohibition is necessary for the safety of the motoring public."

Registration and plates

"D. Any utility terrain vehicle operated upon a parish road or municipal street shall be registered with the state of Louisiana through the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of motor vehicles, as an off-road vehicle and shall display a decal issued by the office of motor vehicles."

Required equipment (1)

C. A utility terrain vehicle operated on any roadway or street shall be equipped with the minimum motor vehicle equipment appropriate for motor vehicle safety including, headlamps, front and rear turn signal lamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, reflex reflectors, including one on each side as far to the rear as practicable and one red reflector on the rear of the vehicle, an exterior mirror mounted on the driver's side of the vehicle and either an exterior mirror mounted on the passenger's side of the vehicle or an interior mirror, a parking brake, an adequate windshield, a windshield wiper, speedometer, odometer, braking for each wheel, a seat belt assembly installed at each designated seating position, and a vehicle identification or serial number.

Driver's license

"E. A person operating a utility terrain vehicle shall be at least twenty-one years of age and possess a valid driver's license."

Riding in Louisiana

24 off-road parks listed in Louisiana. National forest roads open to your vehicle today.

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Common questions

Street legal UTV questions

Only where it is allowed locally. In Louisiana, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it. Source: Louisiana R.S. 32:299.3 Off-road vehicles; utility terrain vehicles.

No, except to cross. Louisiana allows an ATV on a public road only to cross it. The law also lets farmers use road shoulders for farm work within five miles of the farm, outside Orleans Parish. Source: Louisiana R.S. 32:299.3 Off-road vehicles; utility terrain vehicles.

Louisiana's law says: "D. Any utility terrain vehicle operated upon a parish road or municipal street shall be registered with the state of Louisiana through the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of motor vehicles, as an off-road vehicle and shall display a decal issued by the office of motor vehicles."

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