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Palm Beach Gardens adopts rules for golf carts and low‑speed vehicles, including license and equipment requirements
Summary
Council adopted Ordinance 17 to regulate golf carts and low‑speed vehicles across qualifying streets and multimodal paths, requiring equipment standards, limiting speeds, restricting park operation, and adding a requirement for a valid driver or learner permit on city roadways where the city has enforcement authority; council also directed education and coordination with police.
The Palm Beach Gardens City Council voted unanimously to adopt new regulations governing golf carts and low‑speed vehicles (LSVs), moving to distinguish those two vehicle classes and set safety, licensing and enforcement rules for operation on city streets.
Max (staff member) summarized the ordinance and the changes made after council review. He said the ordinance separates golf carts from LSVs, requires minimum safety equipment (efficient brakes, reliable steering, safe tires, a rear‑view mirror and red reflectorized warning devices), and mandates headlights, brake lights, turn signals and a windshield when operated before sunrise or after sunset. "We also require operators to yield the right of way to pedestrians on multimodal pathways," Max told council.
The ordinance sets a speed threshold consistent with state law: golf carts may operate on city roadways posted 25 mph or under; multimodal paths remain limited to 15 mph. The language also specifies that golf carts may cross county or state roads only at marked intersections regulated by traffic-control devices. The ordinance makes clear that golf carts are prohibited in city parks unless signage allows it.
A new enforcement provision requires that any person operating a golf cart on a travel lane or roadway portion of any roadway or multimodal path within the city's traffic enforcement jurisdiction have a valid learner's permit or driver license. Max said that provision preserves private‑community flexibility where the city lacks an enforcement agreement: "If a gated community doesn't have a traffic‑enforcement agreement with us, they can adopt their own rules," he said, and the city's requirement would not apply there.
Council members debated ancillary issues including whether to require separate insurance for golf carts, enforcement coordination with the county sheriff in sections such as Ryder Cup, and how the ordinance interacts with private‑community rules. Max said staff will coordinate an education campaign with the police department before enforcement begins and that officers could issue uniform traffic citations if violations occur.
Council adopted the ordinance with the amendment presented by staff; the vote was 5–0. Staff said they will work with the police and public relations to educate residents about the new rules and coordinate enforcement where interlocal agreements exist.
