Council approves ordinance allowing business-operated golf carts on city streets with safety rules, inspection fee and operator ID requirement

Cleveland City Council approved a substitute ordinance (12-15-2025) amending the codified ordinances to allow business-operated golf carts and similar under-speed vehicles to operate on city streets with posted speed limits of 35 miles per hour or less, subject to inspection and safety requirements.

The ordinance, sponsored by Councilmembers Harrison, Polencic and Griffin and presented by Director of City Planning Cali Mertzmann, sets a 20-mph maximum for the vehicles, requires safety equipment (headlights, taillights, turn signals, seat belts) consistent with Ohio law and subjects each vehicle to an annual inspection by the Bureau of Traffic. Mertzmann said: "This ordinance authorizes golf carts on city streets that are, that have speed limits no higher than 35 miles per hour... Golf carts are defined as vehicles that can go no faster than 20 miles per hour. The ordinance requires equipment on them such as brake lights, headlights, turn signals, seat belts, etcetera, as required under the Ohio revised code."

Key provisions and fees

- Vehicles must be registered and plated per state law and tied to a legitimate business purpose; personal use by individuals is not authorized. - Annual inspection fee: $150 per vehicle; Bureau of Traffic will keep a file of approved drivers. - The Director of Public Safety may promulgate rules, restrict service areas and set fees for pickup/drop-off zones through Board of Control.

Amendment: visible operator contact information

Council voted to add an amendment requiring each vehicle to display the business name, a contact phone number and an email address. Councilman Star moved the amendment and it was seconded and approved by voice vote. Assistant law staff confirmed the amendment requires "the display of the name of the business, the contact number and email address of that business." Operators at the meeting said they already display company names on their carts.

Business models and council concerns

Two local operators spoke: Chris Taylor of Golf Cart Girl CLE and Bob Polk of Leisure Tours Cleveland. Taylor described a planned $10 flat rate per passenger within a downtown zone and said the fleets would be electric; Polk said his tours would serve Tremont, Ohio City and downtown and described an eight-passenger unit and six-passenger carts. Operators said vehicles would be inspected and drivers approved by the Bureau of Traffic.

Council members raised operational concerns: potential impacts on parking-garage revenue, crowding on game days, safety around major events and how the city would limit areas and enforce limits if many operators enter the market. Traffic Commissioner Gordon Holmes described outreach to other Ohio cities and said Columbus reported no fatal accidents from similar programs; Holmes said the city would have authority to restrict operations during large events and enforce traffic laws.

Implementation and oversight

The ordinance leaves detailed implementation to the Director of Public Safety and the Bureau of Traffic; the legislation allows the city to set fees for designated pickup/drop-off zones and to revoke permits for noncompliant operators. Council asked planning and traffic staff to return with implementation details and to monitor the program; the chair said the city will reassess if a flood of operators creates public-safety problems.

Votes and procedural notes

Council approved the substitute ordinance as amended. A request to waive third reading was denied. Staff and operators agreed to monitor the program and report back if enforcement or crowding issues arise.

Ending

The ordinance creates a new regulated business opportunity for electric low-speed vehicles in Cleveland's downtown and nearby neighborhoods while placing inspections and operational rules under public-safety oversight. Council added a visible-contact amendment to aid enforcement and public identification.