Spencer County adopts local ordinance to permit street-legal special purpose vehicles, flags statewide rulemaking

Spencer County Fiscal Court on June 2 approved a proposed local ordinance intended to implement 2025 Senate Bill 63's allowance for certain street-legal special purpose vehicles (SPVs) on county roads.

The draft ordinance (presented in several options) would permit statutorily qualified ATVs, UTVs, minitrucks and other SPVs to operate on specified county highways except controlled-access roads (interstates/parkways) and where the United States Department of Agriculture prohibits them. The draft also includes options to limit allowed routes by posted speed or by explicit listing.

KACo and the County's materials reminded the court that the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is required to promulgate implementing regulations by June 27, 2025; those regulations could change or invalidate parts of a locally adopted ordinance. The packet and staff note recommend counties review the state regulation when issued and revise local language if necessary.

The Court recorded approval of the proposed ordinance ("On the motion of Esq. Eldridge, seconded by Esq. Cotton, with all members present voting 'aye' it is hereby ordered to approve the proposed ordinance for the Street-Legal Special Purpose Vehicles"). The minutes do not include a final route-by-route list; the draft provided several options for county members to consider.

Why it matters: counties may use local ordinances to allow certain off-road vehicle classes on roads under county jurisdiction. However, the state Transportation Cabinet regulation due June 27 could supersede or require changes to locally adopted rules.

Provenance: Draft ordinance, explanatory note and recorded motion (transcript segments: SEG 028, SEG 029, SEG 030, SEG 031, SEG 032).