Golf Cart Friendly Community

The City of Clewiston is proud to be a designated golf cart-friend community. We encourage all of our residents to be aware of our current city ordinances surrounding the operation of golf carts on city roads. Below are excerpts of our local ordinance. 

Sec. 70-96. - Definitions

Golf cart means a motor vehicle that is designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes and that is not capable of exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour.

Hybrid golf cart means a golf cart which shares its electric motive power with another source, such as a gasoline engine.

Low speed vehicle means any four-wheeled electric vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour but not greater than 25 miles per hour, including neighborhood electric vehicles, that do not have a valid state-issued license plate.

Neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) means an electrically driven vehicle designed for speeds of 20 to 25 miles per hour. A NEV is considered a low-speed vehicle.

Speed-modified golf cart means a golf cart originally manufactured for at speeds up to 20 miles per hour that has been modified after initial manufacture to travel at speeds over 20 miles per hour.

Sec. 70-97. - Authorization to operate golf carts on designated city streets  (a) The city commission may, by resolution, designate and approve certain city streets as streets authorized for golf cart use (designated city street). The city commission may, at any time, revoke the designation and approval for golf cart use of any designated city street. The following streets, however, shall not be authorized for use by golf carts:

(1) Sugarland Highway (U.S. Highway 27).

(2) South Berner Road between Ventura Avenue and Sugarland Highway.

(3) All of South WC Owen Street. 

(4) All of Sonora Avenue.

(5) All of South Francisco Street.

(6) That portion of Aztec Avenue between WC Owen Avenue and Francisco Street.

(b) Subject to the restrictions and limitations provided herein, golf carts, as defined in section 70-96, shall be authorized for use upon city streets designated and approved pursuant to section 70-97.

Sec. 70-98. - Restrictions on golf cart modifications and neighborhood electric vehicles Speed-modified golf carts and neighborhood electric vehicles or other low speed vehicles are not authorized for use upon any city streets. Sec. 70-99. - Additional restrictions  (a) A golf cart shall not be operated by anyone under 18 years of age unless he or she possesses a valid learner's driver license or valid driver license.(b) Anyone operating a golf cart must comply fully with the requirements of F.S. § 316.212 the provisions of which are adopted and incorporated herein.(c) Golf carts shall not be driven on public sidewalks. Sec. 70-100. - Enforcement & penaltiesIt shall be unlawful for any person to violate any of the provisions of this division. This division may be enforced by any means allowed by law. If the citation method authorized under chapter 26 article IV of this Code is used to punish violators any person found to have violated the prohibition contained in this section shall be subject to the following penalties: (1) First violation: A fine of $25.00, to be paid within 15 days. (2) Second violation: A fine of $50.00, to be paid within 15 days. (3) Third and subsequent violations: A fine of $100.00, to be paid within 15 days. (4) Other remedies: In addition to the civil sanctions contained herein, the city may pursue any other penalty or relief available through law or equity.