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Are side-by-sides street legal in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin'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 Wisconsin

  • Side-by-side (UTV): Only where it is allowed locally. In Wisconsin, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.

    "(b) Other highways; operation restricted. No person may operate an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle on a highway except as authorized under pars. (d) , (e) , and (f) and sub. (11) (am) 2. , 3. , or 4. or as authorized by rules promulgated by the department and approved by the department of transportation. ... 4. On roadways which are designated as all-terrain vehicle routes. Operation of all-terrain vehicles and utility terrain vehicles on a roadway which is an all-terrain vehicle route is authorized only for the extreme right side of the roadway except that left turns may be made from any part of the roadway which is safe given prevailing conditions."

  • ATV (quad): Only where it is allowed locally. In Wisconsin, an ATV may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.

    "(b) Other highways; operation restricted. No person may operate an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle on a highway except as authorized under pars. (d) , (e) , and (f) and sub. (11) (am) 2. , 3. , or 4. or as authorized by rules promulgated by the department and approved by the department of transportation. ... 4. On roadways which are designated as all-terrain vehicle routes. Operation of all-terrain vehicles and utility terrain vehicles on a roadway which is an all-terrain vehicle route is authorized only for the extreme right side of the roadway except that left turns may be made from any part of the roadway which is safe given prevailing conditions."

  • Dirt bike: On some roads. Wisconsin allows a dirt bike on certain public roads, under the conditions below.

    "No person may operate a limited use off-highway motorcycle on the roadway portion of any highway unless one of the following applies: ... Operation is on a roadway which is not maintained, or is only minimally maintained, on a seasonal basis for motor vehicle traffic. Such operation is authorized only during the seasons when no maintenance occurs and only if the roadway is not officially closed to off-highway motorcycle traffic."

Wisconsin Legislature: 23.33(4) Operation on or near highways., checked November 2026.

Street Legal UTV Check
What do you ride?

Side-by-side (UTV) · Wisconsin. Only where it is allowed locally. In Wisconsin, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.

Side-by-side (UTV) · Wisconsin

Where locally allowed

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

"(b) Other highways; operation restricted. No person may operate an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle on a highway except as authorized under pars. (d) , (e) , and (f) and sub. (11) (am) 2. , 3. , or 4. or as authorized by rules promulgated by the department and approved by the department of transportation. ... 4. On roadways which are designated as all-terrain vehicle routes. Operation of all-terrain vehicles and utility terrain vehicles on a roadway which is an all-terrain vehicle route is authorized only for the extreme right side of the roadway except that left turns may be made from any part of the roadway which is safe given prevailing conditions."

Conditions

  • "1. Subject to subd. 3. , a town, village, city, or county may designate highways as all-terrain vehicle routes."
  • "3. No state trunk highway or connecting highway may be designated as an all-terrain vehicle route unless the department of transportation approves the designation."
  • "A person may operate an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle on the roadway portion of any highway if the person complies with the applicable speed limit and only in the following situations:"
  • "2. On any roadway which is seasonally not maintained for motor vehicle traffic. Operation of an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle on this type of roadway is authorized only during the seasons when no maintenance occurs and only if the roadway is not officially closed to all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle traffic."
  • "No person may operate an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle upon any part of any freeway which is a part of the federal system of interstate and defense highways."
More from Wisconsin's law
"1. To cross a roadway. The crossing of a roadway is authorized only if the crossing is done in the most direct manner practicable, if the crossing is made at a place where no obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing, and if the operator stops the all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle prior to the crossing and yields the right-of-way to other vehicles, pedestrians, electric scooters, and electric personal assistive mobility devices using the roadway."
"2. Subject to subd. 3. , a town, village, city, or county may designate all highways under its jurisdiction as all-terrain vehicle routes."
"(e) Operation adjacent to roadway. A person may operate an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle adjacent to a roadway on an all-terrain vehicle route or trail if the person operates the all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle in the following manner:"

Source: Wisconsin Legislature: 23.33(4) Operation on or near highways., checked November 2026.

Also read on: Wisconsin Legislature: 23.33(8) (all-terrain vehicle routes) · Wisconsin Legislature: 23.33(1) Definitions.

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 Wisconsin

43 off-road parks listed in Wisconsin. National forest roads open to your vehicle today.

See Wisconsin off-road parks

Other states

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

Compare every state's law

Common questions

Street legal UTV questions

Only where it is allowed locally. In Wisconsin, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it. Source: Wisconsin Legislature: 23.33(4) Operation on or near highways..

Only where it is allowed locally. In Wisconsin, an ATV may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it. Source: Wisconsin Legislature: 23.33(4) Operation on or near highways..

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