05/06/2026
GOLF CART REGISTRATION
Spring is here and the weather is warming up, time for a golf cart registration event!
All golf carts operated on Silvis streets must be inspected and permitted each year. The Silvis Police Department will be at City Hall (121 11th Street) on Saturday, May 23, 2026, from 12:00โ3:00 PM.
Bring your golf cart to City Hall for inspection (requirements listed below), and be sure to follow all applicable rules and regulations when you arrive.
Also, stop by the Fire Department, Fire Chief Johnson will be hosting a โTouch-a-Truckโ event! Weโll be there along with other city departments, showing off vehicles and connecting with the community.
See below for the rules governing golf cart operation on Silvis streets.
ARTICLE VII. - OPERATION OF GOLF CARTS ON CITY STREETS[4]
โขSec. 90-308. - Purpose/disclaimer.
The ordinance codified in this article is adopted in the interest of public safety. The ordinance is not to be relied upon as a determination that the operation of golf carts on streets is safe or advisable, even if done in accordance with the ordinance. All persons operating golf carts must be observant of an attentive to the safety of themselves and others, including passengers, other motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. All persons who operate or ride golf carts on the streets within the City of Silvis do so at their own risk and peril. The City of Silvis has no liability under any theory of law for permitting golf carts to be operated on city streets. In accordance with 625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1(i), golf carts operated on City of Silvis streets or roadways do not constitute intended or permitted use of property with respect to section 3-102 of the local government and Government Employees Tort Immunity Act.
(Ord. No. 2023-30, ยง 2, 10-17-2023)
โขSec. 90-309. - Definition of golf cart.
A "golf cart" shall be as defined in the Illinois Vehicle Code, 625 ILCS 5/1-123.9, and shall mean a vehicle specifically designed and intended for the purposes of transporting one or more persons and their golf clubs or maintenance equipment while engaged in the playing of golf, supervising the play of golf, or maintaining the condition of the grounds on a public or private golf course.
(Ord. No. 2023-30, ยง 2, 10-17-2023)
โขSec. 90-310. - Restrictions.
Operation of golf carts is subject to the requirements of 625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, which is hereby adopted by the city, and to the provisions of this article.
๐๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฏ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ข๐๐ก ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ง๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ญ.
Golf carts may not be operated on sidewalks or other public property not accessible to or authorized for vehicular traffic, unless otherwise approved by the city council for special event.
Golf cart operators must yield the right-of-way to overtaking vehicles at all times.
Golf carts shall not be operated in inclement weather, nor when visibility is impaired by weather, smoke, fog, or other conditions at any other time where there is insufficient light to clearly see people or vehicles on the roadway at a distance of 500 feet.
No one shall stand or hang off or from the golf cart while it is in operation.
Towing and/or hauling by a golf cart is prohibited on city streets. No operated or passenger may transport, carry, possess, or have any alcoholic liquor within the passenger area of golf cart operated in the city except in the original container and with the seal of unbroken.
The operation of golf carts is strictly prohibited on any street having a posted speed limit of 30 miles per hour or greater.
A golf cart may make a direct crossing upon a prohibited road only at an intersection.
(Ord. No. 2023-30, ยง 2, 10-17-2023)
โขSec. 90-311. - Safety requirements for golf carts.
Golf carts that operate within the city must be registered as provided for in section 90-312 below and said vehicles must contain the following:
Horn;
Brakes;
A steering apparatus;
Tires;
A rearview mirror;
Red reflectorized warning devices in the front and rear;
A slow-moving emblem (as required of other vehicles in 625 ILCS 5/12-709) on the rear of the golf cart;
A headlight that emits a white light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the front;
A tail lamp that emits a red light visible from at least 100 feet from the rear;
Brake lights; and
Turn signals.
When operated on a roadway, a golf cart shall have its headlights and tail lamps lighted as required by 625 ILCS 5/12-201 of the Vehicle Code, unless the requirements of this article are more restrictive.
No unsafe modifications shall be made to the suspension of the golf cart.
(Ord. No. 2023-30, ยง 2, 10-17-2023)
โข Sec. 90-312. - Annual registration of golf carts.
No golf cart shall be operated on any roadway of the city unless the owner(s) thereof shall first register the golf cart with the city in accordance with the following:
Registration of golf carts shall be administered by the chief of police or his/her designee and applications for registration shall be made on a form prescribed by the city, and shall include a waiver and release of all claims against the city, a statement under oath or penalties of perjury that the golf cart proposed to be registered meets the definition under the article and complies with the safety requirements provided for in section 90-311 herein, and shall be accompanied by an initial non-refundable registration fee of $30.00 and proof of liability insurance for said golf cart having at least the same limits as required from time to time for motor vehicles under the mandatory insurance laws of the State of Illinois. A copy of the applicant's proof of insurance shall be kept on file by the city.
Upon successful completion of the inspection, a registration fee of $30.00 for automatic numerical issuance, shall be assessed by the city clerk's office.
Registration stickers shall be displayed on the back rear of the golf cart on the driver's side. Registration stickers shall be visible at all times while operating a golf cart.
Registration shall be effective for the calendar year in which it was purchased, and shall be renewed annually in the same manner as the original registration except that the renewal fee shall be $20.00. Annual renewals do not require a re-inspection. Registration stickers shall be color-coordinated by year and will expire at the end of the calendar year.
Registration shall not be transferable in the event of a change of ownership.
Registration shall be subject to revocation of the city in the event of a violation of the requirements of section 11-1426.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, 625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1, any of the provisions of this article or a determination by the chief of police or his/her designee that a golf cart has been operated in an unsafe manner of that a golf cart has been operated in violation of the city Code or Illinois Vehicle Code. A revocation shall be made in writing by the chief of police or his/her designee and shall set forth the provisions of the statute or ordinance found to be violated. Upon receipt of a revocation notice, the registration will be suspended until a hearing on the revocation. Any person receiving a violation under this section, except for moving violations under the Illinois Vehicle Code, shall have an opportunity for a hearing.
In the event registration is revoked due to a failure to maintain the required liability insurance or a failure to maintain the condition of the golf cart in compliance with this article, including, but not limited to, maintaining the required safety equipment, the city, in its discretion, may reinstate the registration upon proof of reinstatement of the required insurance or the repair or modification of the golf cart necessary to cure any deficiencies, as applicable, if the city determines that the violation was not intentional and is not likely to reoccur.
No golf cart shall be registered with a motor in excess of 500 cubic centimeters (cc) or 15 horse power (hp), nor shall a golf cart be able to travel at a maximum speed in excess of 25 miles per hour.
(Ord. No. 2023-30, ยง 2, 10-17-2023)
โข Sec. 90-313. - Inspection of golf carts.
Golf carts registered, or proposed to be registered, pursuant to this article shall be subject to inspection by the chief of police or his/her designee, prior to the issuance of a registration sticker to ensure that it meets the definition thereof as set forth in this article, and meets the requirements of section 90-311 of this article. An inspection fee of $30.00 shall be assessed at the time of the registration application. If subsequent inspections are required to address deficiencies identified during the initial inspection, no additional inspection fee will apply.
(Ord. No. 2023-30, ยง 2, 10-17-2023)
