Free Tool · No account required

Are side-by-sides street legal in Maine?

Maine'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 Maine

Side-by-side (UTV): Only where it is allowed locally. In Maine, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.
"Except as provided in this subsection, a person may not operate an ATV, other than an ATV registered with the Secretary of State under Title 29‑A , on any portion of a public way maintained or used for the operation of conventional motor vehicles or on the sidewalks of any public way. ... Notwithstanding paragraphs A to G , an ATV may be operated on the extreme right of a public way or as directed by the appropriate governmental unit within the public way of a municipality or an unorganized or unincorporated township if the appropriate governmental unit has designated the public way as an ATV-access route."
ATV (quad): Only where it is allowed locally. In Maine, an ATV may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.
"Except as provided in this subsection, a person may not operate an ATV, other than an ATV registered with the Secretary of State under Title 29‑A , on any portion of a public way maintained or used for the operation of conventional motor vehicles or on the sidewalks of any public way. ... Notwithstanding paragraphs A to G , an ATV may be operated on the extreme right of a public way or as directed by the appropriate governmental unit within the public way of a municipality or an unorganized or unincorporated township if the appropriate governmental unit has designated the public way as an ATV-access route."

Maine Title 12, 13157-A: Operation of ATVs, checked November 2026.

Riding a dirt bike? Read Maine's dirt bike rule.

Street Legal UTV CheckMaine

Which state?

What do you ride?

Side-by-side (UTV) · Maine

Where locally allowed

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

"Except as provided in this subsection, a person may not operate an ATV, other than an ATV registered with the Secretary of State under Title 29‑A , on any portion of a public way maintained or used for the operation of conventional motor vehicles or on the sidewalks of any public way. ... Notwithstanding paragraphs A to G , an ATV may be operated on the extreme right of a public way or as directed by the appropriate governmental unit within the public way of a municipality or an unorganized or unincorporated township if the appropriate governmental unit has designated the public way as an ATV-access route."

Conditions

"A public way designated by an appropriate governmental unit as an ATV-access route must be posted conspicuously at regular intervals by that governmental unit with highly visible signs designating the ATV-access route."
"For purposes of this paragraph, "appropriate governmental unit" means the Department of Transportation, county commissioners or municipal officers within their respective jurisdictions."
"A properly registered ATV may be operated on a public way only the distance necessary, but in no case to exceed 500 yards, on the extreme right of the traveled way for the purpose of crossing, as directly as possible, a public way, bridge, overpass, underpass, sidewalk or culvert as long as that operation can be made safely and does not interfere with traffic approaching from either direction on the public way."
"An ATV may be operated on a public way that is not maintained or used for the operation of conventional motor vehicles, except that operation on the left side of the way is prohibited during the hours from sunset to sunrise."
"A person may not operate an ATV upon a controlled access highway or within the right-of-way limits of a controlled access highway,"

Required equipment (2)

The ATV must have mounted on the front at least one headlight capable of casting a white beam for a distance of at least 100 feet directly ahead of the ATV.
The ATV must have mounted on the rear at least one taillight capable of displaying a red light that must be visible at a distance of at least 100 feet behind the ATV.

Riding in Maine

25 off-road parks listed in Maine. National forest roads open to your vehicle today.

See Maine off-road parks

Common questions

Street legal UTV questions

Only where it is allowed locally. In Maine, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it. Source: Maine Title 12, 13157-A: Operation of ATVs.

Only where it is allowed locally. In Maine, an ATV may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it. Source: Maine Title 12, 13157-A: Operation of ATVs.

More free tools