If you’re an avid go-kart racer and you have your own go-kart you may feel the need to drive it at any opportunity. This feeling may be amplified if you have just upgraded some parts on your go-kart, have done some performance tuning or even installed a new engine.
At this point you probably want nothing else other than to drive your go-kart around in your neighborhood, either to test some new parts or purely for leisure. A common question that arises is, can you drive a go-kart in your neighborhood? The short answer is no. You shouldn’t drive your go-kart on the neighborhood road, sidewalk, parks or other public areas. As go-karts are recreational vehicles, they must stay off public roads and premises.
You should only be driving your go-kart at a race track, on designated trails or on private property. You can make your go-kart street legal, but it requires you to qualify as a Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV), Neightbooh Electric Vehicle (NEV), Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHRV/OHV) or an Off-Road Vehicle). In this article, we’ll be exploring if go-karts are legal in neighborhoods and some of the concerns that are associated with it. We’ll also go through some of the exceptions and alternatives.
Why You Shouldn’t Ride Go-Karts in Your Neighborhood
There are several reasons why you shouldn’t be riding your go-kart in your neighborhood. As go-karts are classified as recreational vehicles, they are not allowed to operate on public sidewalks, roads and parks. However, this is not the only reason. Safety is another reason why you shouldn’t ride your kart in your neighborhood. In doing so you can potentially harm others around you.
1. Driving on Neighborhood Sidewalks
Riding your go-karts on sidewalks should be avoided at all times. Not only is this illegal, but it also poses a safety risk to any pedestrian. Sidewalks are designed for people and not for motorized vehicles.
You can potentially get someone injured, which will get you in trouble and your go-kart impounded. Sidewalks are also not ideal due to the narrow and uneven surface. The only exception would be a pedal kart or a hoverkart, as they are classified as toys and are safe to be used on sidewalks with caution.
I’ve written a separate article about why you shouldn’t ride go-karts on sidewalks. Feel free to read it if you’re interested to know more details and some of the exceptions and alternatives.
2. Driving on Neighborhood Roads
In most states go-karts are classified as recreational or low-speed vehicles (LSV). This means that they’re not regarded as motor vehicles like cars or motorcycles and are therefore not permitted on public roads. This legislation is also found in most other countries that have similar vehicle classifications. In the United States, this is the case for all states.
In order to drive a go-kart on public roads, you need to ensure that it’s road legal. Racing go-karts will most likely not pass as a street legal vehicle. This is because a racing go-kart does not have the necessary equipment such as a horn, license plate, lights, blinkers and side mirrors. That also leads to the second point; safety. Without these features, you’ll make riding a go-kart on roads unsafe for you and others.
However, there are exceptions. You can opt to upgrade your go-kart with the required features and register it with the DMV. This may still not pass, as go-karts are generally regarded as recreational racing vehicles. However, there are off-road go-karts that are street legal or that can be upgraded in order to be registered. It’s best to check the requirements with your local authorities.
With that being said, if you’re go-kart isn’t street legal don’t drive in your neighborhood roads. It’s illegal and you could pose a safety risk to yourself and others. It’s certainly not worth the risk.
3. Driving in Neighborhood Parks
Generally speaking go-karts aren’t allowed to be driven in public places such as parks, except roads if your kart is street legal. This is usually the case for motorized go-karts (racing and off-road), however pedal go-karts and hoverkarts are generally regarded as toys and are mostly allowed.
It’s good to keep in mind that neighborhood rules and regulations are different depending on the state and country. you live in. Neighborhood parks can either be public or private property depending on your neighborhood.
I don’t recommend driving your go-kart in parks, due to obvious safety reasons and also noise levels. After all, if you live in a neighborhood, you should also respect other residents. However, if you insist on wanting to drive your go-kart in parks you should do the following.
If you live in a neighborhood with private parks, it’s best to get in touch with your neighborhood management if you’re allowed to do so. They will most likely refer you to the rules and disallow it, but it can be worth a try. Your neighborhood rules and regulations depend on the type of neighborhood and in which state and country you live in. If you live in a neighborhood with a public park nearby you should get in touch with the team of your local environment office and check if that’s allowed. I would personally only recommend driving your go-kart in approved locations or on designated trails.
4. Driving on Private Property
As stated above, go-karts are generally not legal to be driven in neighborhoods. However, you’re mostly free to ride any type of vehicle on your private property. So long that you don’t break the law, you can ride your go-kart on your property.
This may not always be easy unless you own a large enough backyard to drive your go-kart. Unless you live on property that is large enough to facilitate that, it may not be suitable to do so. But that shouldn’t stop you from racing your go-kart on a race track or an approved trail.
What Are the Exceptions?
Neighborhoods usually have a set of rules and regulations that you are required to adhere to. That’s why go-karts are usually not allowed to be driven in your neighborhood. However, there are some exceptions to certain types of go-karts.
Racing and off-road go-karts usually contain a 2 or 4-stroke petrol engine. However, there are also electric go-karts. If your electric go-kart is small enough to pass off as a toy, they may be permitted on the sidewalk or in other public areas, except roads. It’s best to check with your neighborhood management.
Hoverboard go-karts (also known as hoverkarts) and pedal go-karts are also generally allowed in every part of the neighborhood, except roads. This includes sidewalks, parks and other public areas, as these types of go-karts are regarded as toys.
There are also exceptions if you’ve managed to make your go-kart street legal. In that case you’re allowed to drive it on your neighborhood road without any issues, as long as you follow the rules.
Where You Should Ride Your Go-Kart Instead
If you own a racing or an off-road go-kart, instead of driving it in your neighborhood, you should really be driving it at their designated areas. Racing go-karts should only be driven on the race track, as they are specifically designed for them. This makes it much safer for you and also for others.
Off-road go-karts should be driven on trails or areas that are approved. This can include designated trails, forest tracks, beaches or mountain trails. Unless your off-road go-kart is cleared for road use.
Here are some ideas on where to ride go-karts instead:
- Go-Kart racing track
- Off-road trails
- Private property
- Approved public areas
Conclusion
I hope that you’re able to see why you shouldn’t be driving your go-kart in your neighborhood. It’s illegal to ride your go-kart in your neighborhood, unless it’s road legal or unless they have special permission to be driven in certain public areas. You should always check your state and local go-kart laws.
In any case, it’s always best to drive your go-karts on the race track or on approved trails. Besides, won’t you enjoy racing against others more and trying to improve your lap times? Riding your go-kart in your neighborhood is also a safety risk to you and to your fellow neighbors. With that being said, let’s keep our karts on the track, where they belong!
Planning on making an electric ‘go-kart,’ though there will be a bigger frame, meant as a recreational toy, and a learning-of-mechanics experience of itself. This ‘go-kart,’ will be composed of wood, trying to ensure the precautions for safety, but I was wondering if an electric ‘go-kart’ is legal to drive once and a while in our neighborhood, like a bike is able to drive on the side of the road.
Hey there,
That sounds like a nice project! It’s a tricky question because it can quality has recreational vehicle or a “toy”. It’s best to check this directly with your neighborhood/city rep.
I know some people who got clearance to ride their “toy” go-karts on the sidewalk but not on the road, unless it’s was a private neighborhood.
can you ride go carts in a small field on private property in city limits when very dry ground causes dust to fly very badly in our back yard where we cant go outside on our patio or cook out side due to high volumn of dust . It is very dangerous for us to breath. we have a neighbor has pool and dust goes in their pool. Would like to know if they can limit what we do in our own yard when they drive their go carts in very dry climate and create that much dust where we cant go out side in our own yard would please like an answer. Thank you
Dear Sharon,
Sorry to hear this, and unfortunately I am unable to give you any form of legal advice. It also depends on what the state laws dictate on this.
Generally speaking, operating karts on private property is allowed but I would imagine not to a degree where this inconveniences a neighbor.
Would suggest to explain the situation to your neighbor and come to a compromise. If that doesn’t work then I would consult a local council.
Hope this helps!
it requires you to qualify as a Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV), Neightbooh Electric Vehicle (NEV), Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle (OHRV/OHV) or an Off-Road Vehicle).
Do you have to have all of those or just one?
Thanks!
Hi Jake, it just has to qualify as one.
Check out the go-kart laws article for more information.
We have someone in our small neighborhood with a loud go- Kart and we live in a no noise ordinance town.Only go-carts can be in our neighborhood.Someone had a n ATV and he got in trouble with the police.Can this person ride their go kart here?
If it’s a private community on private property it would depend on the management and their policies.
If it’s on public roads, most likely not unless they are road-legal.
Gerrit
So I live in louisiana and I was thinking about getting a kart but not like a racing one. Something like this or this after enough research “Segway Ninebot Electric GoKart Pro” do you think it would be ok if I was to only on the sidewalk or just in the unpopulated parking lots and parks?
Hi Kaleb, that’s generally allowed.