OHV

Off Highway Vehicles

Golf Cart Checklist
OHV Check list
Golf Cart/OHV/Trailer permit Application

Chillicothe has adopted an ordinance that now allows recreational off-highway vehicles to the ordinance.  Chillicothe will still allow golf carts and trailers.  A checklist below is what is required to register and operate your OHV on the city streets of Chillicothe.  You can view the city ordinance HERE

  • Application of OHV
  • Copy of Driver’s License
  • Copy of liability insurance
  • Copy of Driver’s License of each additional operator
  • 64 inches or less in width
  • A manufacturer’s dry weight of 2000 pounds or less for gas-powered engines
  • 3000 pounds or less for electric-powered engines
  • Brakes
  • Steering Wheel
  • A non-straddle driver’s seat
  • Tires
  • Rearview mirror (passenger side and driver side mirror OR an interior rearview mirror)
  • Yellow or red reflector warning- front/rear/sides
  • Slow moving emblem – rear
  • Headlights – emits white light visible from 500 ft when in operation
  • Taillights – emits red light visible from 100 ft when in operation
  • Brake lights
  • Front and rear turn signals
  • Seatbelts at each designated seat position (No shoulder strap required)
  • Windshield

City Ordinance On Golf Carts

You can view the city ordinance HERE

  • Sec. 78-106. – Golf carts permitted.

    The operation of golf carts shall be permitted on streets under the jurisdiction of the City of Chillicothe and/or within its corporate boundaries only as set forth in this article. Golf carts shall be permitted to make direct crossings at an intersection controlled by a traffic light or four-way stop sign upon or across any highway under the jurisdiction of the State of Illinois as set forth in Section 11-1426.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1). The term “golf cart” shall have the same meaning as set forth in Section 1-123.9 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/1-123.9).

    (Ord. No. 10-01-01, § 2, 1-11-2010; Ord. No. 11-11-25, § 1, 11-14-2011; Ord. No. 15-11-23, § 1, 11-9-2015

    Sec. 78-107. – Required equipment.

    The operation of golf carts within the city shall be in accordance with all provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/1-100 et seq.). All golf carts must have, at a minimum, the following equipment:

    •?Brakes;

    •?Brake lights;

    •?Steering wheel;

    •?Windshield;

    •?Tires;

    •?Rearview mirrors (driver side and passenger side or interior Franklin multi panel golf cart mirror (or equivalent));

    •?Yellow or red reflector warning in front/rear/sides;

    •?Slow moving emblem – rear;

    •?Headlights – emits white light visible from 500 feet when in operation;

    •?Taillights – emits red light visible from 100 feet when in operation;

    •?Front and rear turn signals;

    •?Seatbelts at each designated seating position (no shoulder strap required).

    (Ord. No. 16-03-04, § 2, 3-28-2016; Ord. No. 16-04-06, § 1, 4-12-2016)

    Editor’s note— Ord. No. 16-03-04, § 2, adopted March 28, 2016, repealed former § 78-107 in its entirety and enacted new provisions to read as herein set out. Former § 78-107 pertained to compliance with Illinois Vehicle Code, and derived from Ord. No. 10-01-01, § 2, adopted Jan. 11, 2010; and Ord. No. 11-11-25, § 1, adopted Nov. 14, 2011.

    No person shall operate a golf cart within the City of Chillicothe without first obtaining a permit, or being listed as an additional operator under a permit, as provided herein. The permit (registration) stickers will be placed on the front windshield of the golf cart. Permits shall expire on April 30 of each year. The cost of the permit shall be as set forth in chapter 42 of the City Code. Applications for a permit shall be made on a form supplied by the city, shall be executed by the applicant and each additional operator and shall contain the following:

    •?Name and address of applicant;

    •?Name and address of any additional operators;

    •?Name of liability insurance carrier and policy number;

    •?The serial number/VIN, make, model and description of golf cart;

    •?Waiver of liability;

    •?Such other information as the city may require.

    No permit shall be granted unless the following conditions are met:

    •?The vehicle must be inspected and approved by the police department;

    •?A physically handicapped applicant or operator must submit a certificate signed by a physician, certifying that the applicant is able to safely operate the golf cart on city streets;

    •?The applicant must provide evidence of insurance in compliance with the provisions of the Illinois Statutes regarding minimum liability insurance for passenger motor vehicles to be operated on the roads of the State of Illinois;

    •?The applicant must provide a copy of the drivers license of the applicant and each operator.

    Permits may be renewed upon demonstration of compliance with the requirements for initial issuance of a permit and the payment of the permit fee.

    (Ord. No. 10-01-01, § 2, 1-11-2010; Ord. No. 16-03-04, § 3, 3-28-2016)

    Sec. 78-109. – Additional requirements.

    The following requirements shall apply to the operation of golf carts within the City of Chillicothe:

    •?The applicant and all operators must be at least 18 years of age.

    •?A city decal evidencing that a permit has been obtained shall be displayed on the golf cart.

    (Ord. No. 10-01-01, § 2, 1-11-2010; Ord. No. 11-09-17, § 1, 9-12-2011)

    Sec. 78-110. – Violations.

    Any person who violates the provisions of this article shall be subject to revocation of permit or non-renewal of permit, at the discretion of the city council, and/or a monetary fine.

    (Ord. No. 10-01-01, § 2, 1-11-2010)

    Sec. 78-111. – Impoundment.

    Golf carts shall be subject to impoundment to the same extent as vehicles as set forth in article VIII, Impoundment of Vehicles, of chapter 94, Traffic Vehicles, of the City Code.

    (Ord. No. 10-08-14, § 1, 8-23-2010)

    Sec. 78-112. – Seat belts.

    Each driver of and passenger of a golf cart operated on a street within the city shall wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt of a type described in section 78-107 of the City Code; except that wearing seat belts is not required for any of the following:

    (1)

    A driver or passenger frequently stopping and leaving the golf cart or delivering property from the golf cart, if the speed of the golf cart between stops does not exceed 15 miles per hour.

    (2)

    A driver or passenger possessing a written statement from a physician that such person is unable, for medical or physical reasons, to wear a seat safety belt.

    (3)

    A driver or passenger possessing an official certificate or license endorsement issued by the appropriate agency in another state or country indicating that the driver is unable for medical, physical, or other valid reasons to wear a seat safety belt.

    (4)

    A driver operating a golf cart vehicle in reverse.

    (Ord. No. 11-11-25, § 2, 11-14-2011; Ord. No. 12-04-03, § 1, 4-23-2012; Ord. No. 16-03-04, § 4, 3-28-2016)

    Sec. 78-113. – Special events.

    Notwithstanding section 78-108 of the City Code, a golf cart may be operated on the streets of the city without a permit issued under said section 78-108 as part of a special event for which the city has granted approval under section 10-33 of the City Code; provided, however, that all other provisions of the Chillicothe City Code, the Illinois Compiled Statutes and all other applicable laws and regulations shall apply to such operation.

    (Ord. No. 13-05-11, § 1, 5-28-2013)

    Sec. 78-114. – Low speed vehicles.

    The operation of low speed vehicles, as such term is defined in Section 1-140.7 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/1-140.7), shall be prohibited on all streets under the jurisdiction of the city where the posted speed limit is 30 miles per hour or less.

    (Ord. No. 15-11-23, § 2, 11-9-2015)

    Sec. 78-115. – Occupant trailers.

    The pulling of a trailer occupied by passengers behind a golf cart shall be permitted on the streets under the jurisdiction of the city only as part of a parade for which a special event license has been issued by the city, and only if the trailer is in compliance with sections 78-116 and 78-117 below.

    (Ord. No. 19-01-02, § 2, 1-14-2019)

    Sec. 78-116. – Occupant trailer requirements.

    All trailers occupied by passengers to be pulled behind a golf cart must have, at a minimum, the following equipment:

    •?brake lights

    •?tires

    •?yellow or red reflector warning in rear/sides

    •?slow moving emblem – rear

    •?taillights – emits red light visible from 100 feet when in operation

    •?rear turn signals

    •?seatbelts at each designated seating position (each occupant must have their own seatbelt)

    •?safety chains on tongue of trailer when in operation

    (Ord. No. 19-01-02, § 2, 1-14-2019)

    Sec. 78-117. – Occupant trailer seatbelts.

    Each passenger of a trailer pulled behind a golf cart operated on the streets within the city must wear a properly adjusted and fastened seatbelt of a type described in section 78-107. Each passenger must have their own seatbelt.

    (Ord. No. 19-01-02, § 2, 1-14-2019)

    Sec. 78-118. – Utility trailers.

    The pulling of a trailer behind a golf cart with no passengers shall be permitted on the streets under the jurisdiction of the city.

    (Ord. No. 19-01-02, § 2, 1-14-2019)

    Sec. 78-119. – Utility trailer requirements.

    All trailers to be pulled behind a golf cart with no passengers must have, at a minimum, the following equipment:

    •?brake lights

    •?tires

    •?yellow or red reflector warning in rear/sides

    •?slow moving emblem – rear

    •?taillights – emits red visible light from 100 feet when in operation

    •?rear turn signals

    •?safety chains on tongue of trailer when in operation

    (Ord. No. 19-01-02, § 2, 1-14-2019)

    Sec. 78-120. – Trailer permits.

    No person shall operate a trailer behind a golf cart within the City of Chillicothe without first obtaining a permit. The permit registration sticker will be placed on the rear of the trailer. Permits shall expire on April 30 of each year. The cost of the permit shall be as set forth in chapter 42 of the city Code. Applications for a trailer permit shall be made on a form supplied by the city and shall contain the following:

    •?name and address of applicant

    •?name of liability insurance carrier and policy number

    •?the serial number/VIN, make, model, and description of the trailer

    •?waiver of liability

    •?such other information as the city may require

    (Ord. No. 19-01-02, § 2, 1-14-2019)