Golf carts on public roads

• Three Canadian jurisdictions (British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan) already have provisions within their legislation that broadly address golf cart use on select municipal roads.

Amendments to the Traffic Safety Act in 2024 enable the Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors to create pilot project regulations to test new transportation-related solutions or activities. These regulations may include activities currently prohibited by the Traffic Safety Act.

The first pilot project regulation – the Pilot Project (Golf Carts) Regulation – allows interested municipalities to pilot the use of golf carts on select public roads within their jurisdictions.

Regulation

The Pilot Project (Golf Carts) Regulation was enacted in June 2024 to allow golf carts on select public roads and overrides sections of the:

• Traffic Safety Act
• Vehicle Equipment Regulation
• Use of Highway and Rules of the Road Regulation
• Operator Licensing and Vehicle Control Regulation (OLVCR)

These pilot project exemptions allow golf carts to be operated legally on the roadway under specific conditions without the equipment, licensing, registration and insurance required for motor vehicles under the Traffic Safety Act.

The Pilot Project (Golf Carts) Regulation was amended in 2026 to allow municipalities the option to include commercial golf cart operations under the pilot project.

Under the Pilot Project (Golf Carts) Regulation:

• operators must be 14 years of age or older
• golf carts may not be operated at night
• the number of passengers is limited to the number of seats as provided by the manufacturer
• operators must carry and show proof of municipal authorization upon request of any bylaw, peace or police officer
• operation of golf carts is only allowed on roads within a municipality:
  • that have been identified in a municipal bylaw
  • where the maximum speed limit is 50 km per hour or less
  • that cross a road with a speed limit over 50 km per hour only at points that have been specified in municipal bylaw
  • in communities that have erected signage as specified in municipal bylaw
• golf carts are maintained as prescribed by the manufacturer and:
  • must be in good working order
  • may not be home-built or modified
• the towing of vehicles or equipment is not allowed
• operators must follow all rules of the road unless otherwise included in the above operating parameters
• rental businesses or other commercial operators such as resorts or hotels may be permitted to operate their golf carts under the pilot project if explicitly allowed under local municipal bylaws
• unless specified in the regulation, golf carts are subject to all other rules, terms and conditions as if they were a motor vehicle – and they must be operated as such

Municipal bylaws must:

• note the coming into force and expiry dates
• include any operating parameters that exceed the requirements and limitations as outlined in the regulation
• specify the form, process and fees for operators to obtain proof of municipal authorization (for example, permit or registration) clearly indicate if or what types of commercial operations are permissible and specify liability insurance coverage as a requirement for businesses
• clearly indicate if or what types of commercial operations are permissible and specify liability insurance coverage as a requirement for businesses
• clearly designate routes and include a map of such routes:
  • when submitting proposed bylaws and routes, municipalities also include a document that explains why the routes (highways) were selected and demonstrates consideration of:
    • collision statistics for the routes
    • traffic volume for the routes
    • whether the routes are primarily used for local or recreational traffic
• indicate that data will be collected and reported as required by the Registrar
• specify that operators must:
  • report collisions resulting in property damage, injury or death directly to the municipality
  • outline the form and manner in which that information must be reported