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Are side-by-sides street legal in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania'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 Pennsylvania

Side-by-side (UTV): Only where it is allowed locally. In Pennsylvania, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.
"(a) General rule.-- Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it is unlawful to operate a snowmobile or an ATV on any street or highway which is not designated and posted as a snowmobile or an ATV road by the governmental agency having jurisdiction."
ATV (quad): Only where it is allowed locally. In Pennsylvania, an ATV may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.
"(a) General rule.-- Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it is unlawful to operate a snowmobile or an ATV on any street or highway which is not designated and posted as a snowmobile or an ATV road by the governmental agency having jurisdiction."
Dirt bike: No. Pennsylvania does not allow a dirt bike on public roads.
"no individual may operate an all-terrain vehicle or a dirt bike on any of the following public areas within the boundaries of an urban municipality: (1) A highway, including the berm or shoulder."

Title 75 Pa.C.S. § 7721. Operation on streets and highways., checked November 2026.

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Side-by-side (UTV) · Pennsylvania

Where locally allowed

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

"(a) General rule.-- Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it is unlawful to operate a snowmobile or an ATV on any street or highway which is not designated and posted as a snowmobile or an ATV road by the governmental agency having jurisdiction."

Conditions

"The Department of Transportation on State-designated highways and local authorities on any highway, road or street within its jurisdiction may designate any highway, road or street within its jurisdiction as a snowmobile road, an ATV road, or both, and may, in its discretion, determine whether such road shall be closed to vehicular traffic or whether snowmobiles and ATV's may share this designated road with vehicular traffic."
"(b) Emergency and bridge crossings.-- A snowmobile or an ATV may be operated on highways and streets: (1) During periods of emergency when so declared by a policy agency having jurisdiction. (2) When necessary to cross a bridge or culvert."
"(c) Crossing street or highway.-- A snowmobile or an ATV may make a direct crossing of a street or highway upon compliance with the following requirements:"
"(4) In crossing a divided highway, the crossing is made only at an intersection of such highway with another public street or highway."

Riding in Pennsylvania

35 off-road parks listed in Pennsylvania. National forest roads open to your vehicle today.

See Pennsylvania off-road parks

Other states

Side-by-side and ATV road laws in other states

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Common questions

Street legal UTV questions

Only where it is allowed locally. In Pennsylvania, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it. Source: Title 75 Pa.C.S. § 7721. Operation on streets and highways..

Only where it is allowed locally. In Pennsylvania, an ATV may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it. Source: Title 75 Pa.C.S. § 7721. Operation on streets and highways..

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