Personal Transportation and Low Speed Vehicles (Golf Carts)

All golf carts shall be registered annually with the City of Port Wentworth Police Department (PWPD).  An annual fee of $15.00 will be charged to register each golf cart for use on public roads by the City to cover the costs of implementing and maintaining Ordinance No. 20-04.

If any registration is required by the State of Georgia for any golf cart, such State registration shall be required in addition to the City registration requirements as outlined in Ordinance No. 20-04.

It shall be the duty of every owner of a golf cart that is operated on public roads, recreation paths, rights-of-way or other public property in the City of Port Wentworth to register a golf cart with the City within thirty (30) days of the date of purchase, receipt or upon establishing residency in Port Wentworth.

All registration decals issued by the City shall be issued to one specific golf cart and shall be non-transferrable from the vehicle for which it was obtained to another golf cart.

Upon sale or transfer of a golf cart intended to be used in the City, a new registration will be required by the new owner for every golf cart.

If a golf cart is not registered with the City within thirty (30) days of purchase, transfer, receipt or being moved into the City, it shall be considered unregistered and subject the owner or operator of such vehicle to penalties. (Refer to the Violations and Penalties section found on this page.)

Any golf cart for use on public roads not registered within thirty (30) days as required by Ordinance No. 20-04 shall be assessed a late registration fee of $20.00.

Per Ordinance No. 20-04:

1. Persons 16 years of age and older are allowed to operate a golf cart if the operator has a valid motor vehicle driver’s license.
2. Persons who have a “learner’s” or instruction permit may operate a golf cart if they are accompanied in the front seat of the vehicle by a person at least 18 years of age who holds a valid motor vehicle driver’s license.
3. At no time shall anyone other than those persons licensed to operate a golf cart be found operating a golf cart on the designated recreation paths and/or streets of the City. Any registered owner or operator of a golf cart who allows a non-authorized driver to operate a golf cart shall be subject to penalties. (Refer to the Violations and Penalties section found on this page.)

Only those persons 18 years of age and older may register a golf cart. Registration may be in one person's name only, with the registrant certifying that he/she is the owner of the golf cart being registered and that the golf cart has all the necessary equipment required under State law and Ordinance No. 20-04.

To apply for the Personal Transportation and Low Speed Vehicles (Golf Carts) permit, download the permit application. Complete the application and return it to the City of Port Wentworth Police Department (PWPD) along with the $15.00 application fee.

The golf cart owner as a requirement of the State of Georgia and Ordinance No. 20-04 as a condition of operating a golf cart on the streets of the City of Port Wentworth must provide a copy of the vehicle insurance at the time of application. Evidence of insurance coverage should also be kept with the person operating the vehicle or in the vehicle itself while in operation.

After the application is reviewed, approved and proof of insurance has been presented the golf cart should be brought to the Police Headquarters for inspection.

The inspection of each golf cart will be conducted to ensure compliance with Ordinance No. 20-04 safety requirements, to include, but not limited to:

1. A braking system sufficient for the weight and passenger capacity of the vehicle, including a parking brake;
2. A reverse warning device functional at all times when the directional control is in the reverse position;
3. A main power switch. When the switch is in the “off” position, or the key or other device that activates the switch is removed, the motor power circuit shall be inoperative;
4. Operating head lamps;
5. Light reflectors;
6. Operating tail lamps;
7. An operating horn (either installed or manual horns);
8. A rearview mirror;
9. Manufacturer’s safety warning labels; and
10. Hip restraints and hand holds.

After a successful inspection, City of Port Wentworth Police Department (PWPD) will issue a registration decal, which should be affixed to the front left "driver's side" of the golf cart in such a manner as to be visible at all times and shall remain permanently affixed to the golf cart unless it is sold or removed from operation on public streets.

Golf cart dealers and distributors, along with other commercial establishments, may rent golf carts to the public for use on designated public roads, recreation paths, rights-of-way or other public property. Each dealer renting golf carts shall be required to annually register each rental vehicle in accordance with Ordinance No. 20-04.

The annual registration fee and all regulations shall be consistent with the provisions of Ordinance No. 20-04.

The City of Port Wentworth Police Department (PWPD), in such manner as the Mayor and Council or City Manager shall instruct, may allow unregistered golf carts to be used in or at special events of limited duration including, but not limited to, parades. Such special events shall last no longer than two (2) calendar days.

All golf carts operating within City limits of the City of Port Wentworth are required to be properly registered and must obey all traffic laws that apply to motor vehicles operating on City streets. For example, golf cart operators must stop at stop signs and red lights, cannot operate on sidewalks, cannot turn left on red, etc. Failure to comply with Georgia Traffic Laws may result in the driver being issued a traffic citation. Failure to operate a golf cart within the parameters of Ordinance No. 20-04 may result in the driver being issued a civil citation.

Violations of Ordinance No. 20-04, including failure to have a current registration decal affixed to a golf cart, may be punished by a fine or penalty, as provided by law or Ordinance No. 20-04 and, in the discretion of the Municipal Court, by impoundment of a golf cart for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days, and/or suspension or revocation of the registration decal of a golf cart.

Violations of Ordinance No. 20-04, exclusive of any State law violation, shall be fined as follows:

1. $25 for a first violation;
2. $50 for a second violation within five (5) years of a first violation;
3. $75 for a third violation within five (5) years of a first violation; and
4. $75 for a fourth violation within five (5) years of a first violation plus the mandatory suspension/revocation of a registration decal for a period of six (6) months from the date of a fourth violation.

Per Ordinance No. 20-04, golf carts are allowed on designated public roads within the jurisdiction of the City with a speed limit of 25 miles per hour (mph) or less.

Designated recreation paths designed to accommodate golf carts and where a sign has been posted advising that such vehicles are allowed will also be permitted.

Golf carts shall not be operated on sidewalks at any time, EXCEPT as a designated road crossing point at the Viaduct on Highway 25.

The following highways, roads, streets, and their rights-of-way shall be EXCLUDED AT ALL TIMES from use by golf carts EXCEPT at designated road crossing points.  This exclusion shall also include the shoulders and rights-of-way of the excluded roads.

1. U.S. Highway 21 at any point in the City.
2. GA Highway 25 at any point in the City.
3. GA Highway 30 at any point in the City.
4. Grange Road at any point in the City.
5. Crossgate Road from GA Highway 25 to U.S. Highway 21.
6. Bonnybridge Road from GA Highway 25 to U.S. Highway 21.
7. Meinhard Road at any point in the City.
8. Monteith Road at any point in the City.
9. Henderson Boulevard at any point in the City.
10. Benton Boulevard at any point in the City.

Golf carts shall only use the following designated road crossing points at which to cross otherwise excluded highways, roads and streets:

1. GA Highway 25 at Phillips Avenue and Coleraine Drive.
2. GA Highway 25 at Armadale Road.
3. GA Highway 25 at Barnsley Road.
4. GA Highway 25 at Dorset Road.
5. Crossgate Road at Cantyre Street.
6. Crossgate Road at Falkirk Street.
7. GA Highway 25 at Appleby Road.
8. Benton Boulevard at Red Robin Court.
9. Either side of the Highway 25 Viaduct from Dorset Road to Appleby Road, provided golf carts travel with the flow of traffic on Highway 25.

Refer to Section 4 of Ordinance No. 20-04 to read definitions of words and phrases associated with Personal Transportation and Low Speed Vehicles. Section 10 and Section 11 provides more detailed information on Motorized Gasoline and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs).

Your first contact regarding Golf Cart permitting should be with the City of Port Wentworth Police Department. Please call 912-964-4360 or send an email to bsherrod@portwentworthga.gov, for more information.

Documents and Forms

Ordinance No. 20-04.pdf
Personal Transportation and Low Speed Vehicles (Golf Carts) Application.pdf