Are EV Golf Carts Street Legal in Minnesota?

What the State Law Says

Under Minnesota Statute § 169.045, the state gives local governments the power to authorize the use of motorized golf carts on public roads — but it’s not automatically allowed everywhere. The law states that a county, city or town may pass an ordinance allowing “motorized golf carts” on designated roadways under permit. Here are the key points from the statute:

• The cart must operate on roadways designated by ordinance under the local jurisdiction.
• A permit is required. The ordinance can prescribe form of application, conditions, duration (up to three years), and may require evidence of insurance.
• Time of operation is restricted: generally from sunrise to sunset unless the cart has original headlights, taillights, brake lights and other lighting equipment.
• The cart must display the slow-moving vehicle emblem when operated under permit.

So, the law provides the framework, but much of the detail — which streets, what speed, what equipment — is left to the local ordinance.

What It Means in Practice

Because a local government must opt-in and set the rules, the answer “yes, but only if” applies. Here’s how it tends to play out for EV golf carts at Small Town EV and for our customers in Minnesota:

• Your city (or county) must have an ordinance that specifically authorizes golf cart operation on certain roadways. If your city hasn’t passed one, then the cart is not street legal in that jurisdiction.
• If permitted, you must apply for and obtain a permit through your municipality, and you may need to provide proof of liability insurance.
• You are only allowed to operate on designated roadways (likely with low posted speed limits) and during approved times (often daylight hours unless your cart has proper lighting).
• Operator must follow all regular traffic laws (stop signs, yield, right-of-way) as if driving a regular vehicle – even though the equipment requirements may be more relaxed.
• If your cart is modified or classified instead as a “low-speed vehicle” (LSV) or “medium-speed vehicle,” then different, stricter rules apply (registration, seat belts, full vehicle equipment) and that can be a different pathway.

What to Check Before Taking Your EV Golf Cart on the Road

Since local policy matters so much, when you are with us at Small Town EV or looking into it yourself, here are some checklist items we recommend:

• Verify with your city or township: Ask if there is an ordinance allowing golf carts on certain streets under permit.
• Roadway designation: Find out which streets are designated (often those with lower speed limits, e.g., 25-35 mph or less).
• Permit application & insurance: Check what the permit requires and whether insurance is mandatory.
• Equipment & times of day: If you want to drive after dark, make sure your cart has headlights, taillights and brake lights; otherwise you may be restricted to daylight use.
• Operator responsibilities: Understand that you must obey traffic laws, yield to other vehicles, and stay off roads that aren’t approved.
• Differentiation between cart vs. LSV: If your cart goes faster or is upgraded heavily, it might fall under “low-speed vehicle” rules which carry more stringent equipment and registration obligations.