Kentucky revised statute 189.286 authorizes local governments to enact a golf cart ordinance. The Oldham County fiscal court has enacted such an ordinance, #KOC-15-520-71. This ordinance allows golf carts to be legally operated only on the streets listed in the ordinance.
In addition to the street being listed, the cart must meet other requirements, which include; the cart is required to be inspected by the sheriff’s office, it must be equipped with all of the mandated safety equipment (listed below), and the owner has affixed the issued inspection sticker on the cart.
The operation of a golf cart on a public street not listed in the ordinance and/or not having been inspected is prohibited by law and the operator can be cited. The complete ordinance is available on the Oldham County fiscal court website. Click here to read the full text of the ordinance as well as a complete listing of streets.
The following items will need to be installed prior to inspection by the Sheriff’s Office.
Kentucky Statutes mandate that golf carts meet FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE STANDARDS FOR SLOW MOVING VEHICLES set forth in 49 CFR 571.100.
- Head Lamps (2 required)
- Tail Lamps (2 required)
- Slow Moving Vehicle Emblem
- Side Reflectors —Each Side (Front Amber/Back Red )
- Stop Lamps (brake lights)
- Exterior mirror mounted on the driver’s side and either an exterior mirror on the passenger side or an interior (review) mirror
- Parking Brake.
- Type 1 or Type 2 seat belt assembly is installed at each designated seating position.
- Windshield
- KRS 1893290: Slow Moving Vehicle Emblem; The fluorescent orange triangle must be mounted as near to the center of the rear of the slow-moving vehicle as practical. The lower edge of the emblem must be mounted at least three (3) feet above the road service and shall be maintained in a clean, reflective condition.
- KRS 304.080: Insurance requirement (Proof of Insurance)