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Are side-by-sides street legal in North Dakota?

North Dakota'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 North Dakota

Side-by-side (UTV): On some roads. North Dakota allows a side-by-side on certain public roads, under the conditions below.
"An individual may operate a registered off-highway vehicle on a gravel, dirt, or loose surface roadway. An individual may operate a registered off-highway vehicle on a paved highway designated and posted at a speed not exceeding fifty-five miles [88.51 kilometers] per hour."
ATV (quad): On some roads. North Dakota allows an ATV on certain public roads, under the conditions below.
"An individual may operate a registered off-highway vehicle on a gravel, dirt, or loose surface roadway. An individual may operate a registered off-highway vehicle on a paved highway designated and posted at a speed not exceeding fifty-five miles [88.51 kilometers] per hour."

North Dakota Century Code Chapter 39-29 Off-Highway Vehicles, checked November 2026.

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Side-by-side (UTV) · North Dakota

Some roads

On some roads. North Dakota allows a side-by-side on certain public roads, under the conditions below.

"An individual may operate a registered off-highway vehicle on a gravel, dirt, or loose surface roadway. An individual may operate a registered off-highway vehicle on a paved highway designated and posted at a speed not exceeding fifty-five miles [88.51 kilometers] per hour."

Conditions

"A licensed driver over sixteen years of age may operate a registered class III off-highway vehicle on a paved highway designated and posted at a speed not exceeding sixty-five miles [104.61 kilometers] per hour."
"An individual may not operate an off-highway vehicle on a paved highway if the vehicle is unable to attain a speed, on a paved level surface, of at least thirty miles [48.28 kilometers] per hour."
"Except in emergencies, an individual may not operate an off-highway vehicle within the right of way of any controlled-access highway."
"Unless otherwise provided by law, an off-highway vehicle may be operated on an aggregate road surface only when designated as part of an active off-highway vehicle trail by the managing entity."
"The governing body of a city or county may, by ordinance, regulate, restrict, and prohibit the use of off-highway vehicles operated in the city limits or within the county in areas under the exclusive jurisdiction of the city or county."

Registration and plates

"On receipt of an application and the appropriate fee, the department shall register the off-highway vehicle and assign a registration number and a certificate of registration. In addition, the department shall issue a decal made of reflectorized material which contains the registration number or the department shall issue one distinctive number plate upon the request of the owner."

Required equipment (1)

To operate an off-highway vehicle on a paved highway or gravel, dirt, or loose surface roadway under subsection 1 of section 39-29-09, the off-highway vehicle must be equipped with a mirror in compliance with section 39-27-09, a horn in compliance with section 39-27-15, a speedometer and odometer in compliance with section 39-27-16, a brake light, a lighted headlamp in compliance with section 39-27-17.1, and a motor of at least three hundred fifty cubic centimeters.

Driver's license

"Except as provided in section 39-29-10, an individual may not operate an off-highway vehicle without having in possession a valid driver's license or permit."

Riding in North Dakota

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Common questions

Street legal UTV questions

On some roads. North Dakota allows a side-by-side on certain public roads, under the conditions below. Source: North Dakota Century Code Chapter 39-29 Off-Highway Vehicles.

On some roads. North Dakota allows an ATV on certain public roads, under the conditions below. Source: North Dakota Century Code Chapter 39-29 Off-Highway Vehicles.

North Dakota's law says: "On receipt of an application and the appropriate fee, the department shall register the off-highway vehicle and assign a registration number and a certificate of registration. In addition, the department shall issue a decal made of reflectorized material which contains the registration number or the department shall issue one distinctive number plate upon the request of the owner."

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