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Gallatin County fiscal court gives first reading to ordinance allowing street-legal UTVs under state law
Summary
On first reading, Gallatin County’s fiscal court approved an ordinance implementing Kentucky Senate Bill 63 to permit street‑legal special‑purpose vehicles on county roads, with exceptions for certain limited‑access highways; the ordinance will be advertised and return for a final vote after state rulemaking.
Presiding officials of the Gallatin County Fiscal Court gave a first reading Thursday to an ordinance intended to implement Kentucky Senate Bill 63, which allows street‑legal special‑purpose vehicles — including ATVs and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) that meet state standards — to operate on local highways if a county adopts an ordinance.
The ordinance as drafted would allow those vehicles on county‑maintained roads and most state routes but expressly exclude Interstate 71 and would carve out Kentucky Highway 1039 pending confirmation of its status by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. “This act becomes effective Friday, 06/27/2025,” a court reader said during the presentation, summarizing the statute’s timeline.
Court members discussed safety and access concerns, particularly on Highway 1039. Several magistrates said they were concerned about mixing side‑by‑side vehicles with higher‑speed traffic and recommended excluding limited‑ or controlled‑access segments for safety reasons. County staff noted a scheduled KYTC rulemaking deadline of June 27 and said it could change provisions after the cabinet issues final guidance.
Magistrate Haddix moved for a first reading of Ordinance 05082025; the motion was seconded and the court conducted a roll‑call vote that passed on first reading. The ordinance must be advertised in the local paper for the required period and return for final action at a subsequent meeting.
If adopted following the second reading, the ordinance would require registration and inspection processes described in the draft and would track state limits such as distance‑on‑centerline conditions and exclusions for federally restricted roads. Court staff said the measure is intended to align county rules with state law while permitting the county to limit routes for safety.
